Small Plane Crashes in Fairfield; Minor Injury

The pilot of a small plane sustained a minor leg injury when his small plane crash landed on the runway of Essex County Airport Monday evening.

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating what caused the single engine Cesna Model 172 to crash land, veer off the runway and flip over. According to the Fairfield Police Department's website, authorities were contacted by Essex County Airport Operations at about 6:53 p.m. Monday concerning an airplane that crash-landed on the runway and reportedly overturned.

"Initial investigation indicates that a single engine Cesna Model 172 airplane approached the airport from the west and attempted to land on Runway number 4," the press release on the FPD's website states. "The plane touched down, at which time, it veered off the runway to the left, striking a snow bank and then overturning."

Police, fire and EMS were immediately dispatched to the scene, according to police. The pilot, identified as Chaim Masri, 46, of Brooklyn, N.Y., sustained a minor injury to his leg. Authorities say the man declined medical attention.

"Currently, the plane is being up-righted and will be secured at the airport pending an investigation by officials from the Federal Aviation Administration," Fairlfield Police said on their website, adding that "information relative to ownership of the plane" was not immediately available.