2 Injured After Small Aircraft Engine Failure Forces Emergency Landing in Ontario

Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after a small aircraft experiencing engine trouble made an emergency landing near Fergus, Ontario on Wednesday afternoon.

The pilot reported engine failure shortly after takeoff and was forced to bring the aircraft down in a field outside the town, approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto. Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, where they found the aircraft sitting in an open field with damage to its landing gear and underside.

Both occupants — a 45-year-old pilot and a 38-year-old passenger — were assessed at the scene and transported to a local hospital with what were described as minor injuries. Their condition is reported as stable.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been notified and will be investigating the cause of the engine failure. The aircraft, a single-engine Cessna, was on a private flight when the incident occurred.

"The pilot did an excellent job getting the plane down safely under difficult circumstances," said a local fire official who responded to the scene. "It could have been much worse."

The field where the aircraft landed has been cordoned off while investigators examine the wreckage. The identity of those on board has not been released pending notification of family members.

This is Alex Thompson for Global1 News, reporting from Toronto. 🇨🇦