GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Florida pilot, John Austin Bryan, miraculously walked away uninjured from a plane crash on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, thanks to the quick deployment of the aircraft’s parachute system and the efforts of local emergency services.
The incident occurred in a wooded area on the 200 block of Liebig Street around 3:42 PM.
The Galloway Township Police Department reported that the Cirrus Aircraft, which had taken off from Atlantic City International Airport, began experiencing engine trouble shortly after takeoff. Bryan quickly contacted air traffic control and managed to deploy the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, steering the aircraft to a safe area devoid of people and vehicular traffic.
A local citizen witnessed the crash and assisted Bryan in exiting the plane before emergency services arrived. Galloway Township EMS evaluated Bryan, who was the sole passenger and did not sustain any injuries.
Chief Richard D. Barber praised the collaborative response to the crash. “Although we do not deal with many plane crashes in Galloway, it was very impressive to see numerous agencies working together on this incident,” said Chief Barber. He highlighted the community’s sense of care, reflected in the quick and selfless actions of both the citizen responder and the first responders at the scene.
The Galloway Township expressed gratitude towards multiple agencies for their assistance during the incident, including Galloway Township EMS, Pomona and Germania Volunteer Fire Departments, Galloway Township OEM, NJ Forest Fire, Atlantic City International Airport Fire Department, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board.
