A small aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on a busy street in Mannheim on Friday afternoon, prompting a large-scale response from police, firefighters and emergency medical services. The incident occurred around 4:00 pm on Neckarauer Straße, a heavily trafficked road near Mannheim’s main railway station in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
According to police, the single-engine aircraft came to a stop directly on the roadway. On board were a 23-year-old pilot, his 23-year-old partner, and a 37-year-old man.
All three occupants were rescued from the aircraft and received medical treatment at the scene. The pilot suffered serious injuries, while the other two passengers sustained minor injuries. All three were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical care.
Emergency services, including fire crews, paramedics and police officers, were deployed in large numbers to secure the area and assist the injured. The landing site was located only a few metres from a petrol station, adding to the seriousness of the situation. As a precaution, Neckarauer Straße was closed in both directions. The closure led to significant traffic disruptions in the surrounding area, and tram services were also affected.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the emergency landing. Officers from the criminal on-call service of the Heidelberg Criminal Police Directorate handled the initial accident investigation. Experts from Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation were also present at the scene.
According to a report by Mannheimer Morgen, police suspect an engine failure may have caused the aircraft to come down. The light aircraft suffered significant damage, estimated at approximately €400,000. No damage to third-party property was reported. The aircraft was secured by authorities and later removed from the scene. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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