Drunk Teen Fleeing Police Crashes Mustang Into Parked Plane At New Hampshire Airport
Portsmouth, New Hampshire: A police pursuit at a New Hampshire airport ended in a dramatic collision after a 17-year-old driver allegedly fleeing officers crashed a Ford Mustang through the airport’s perimeter fence and slammed into a parked aircraft.
The black 2008 Ford Mustang first struck a ground-support tractor before colliding with a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft operated by PlaneSense. The crash caused extensive damage to both vehicles, although authorities said no one else was injured.
Images and videos from the scene showed the Mustang with severe damage to its front end and the aircraft visibly damaged after the impact.
Mustang Breaches Airport Fence During Pursuit
According to police, the incident began when a state trooper spotted the Mustang, which was reportedly believed to be connected to incidents investigated by other law-enforcement agencies.
The trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, but police said the driver refused to stop and allegedly fled without using the car’s headlights.
The pursuit ended up inside Portsmouth International Airport, where the Mustang breached a chain-link perimeter fence and entered the aircraft parking area.
Once inside the airport, the vehicle crossed the apron before hitting a ground-support tractor and then crashing into the parked Pilatus PC-12.
Police took the teenager into custody shortly afterwards and transported him to a hospital for evaluation.
Parked Aircraft Suffers Extensive Damage
PlaneSense said the PC-12 was parked at its Portsmouth headquarters and was awaiting routine maintenance when it was struck.
The company said none of its employees were injured and that its flight operations were not disrupted by the incident.
The aircraft, however, sustained significant damage. Reports and images indicate that its left wing was severed, while the landing gear was also damaged. A fuel leak was reportedly detected following the collision, creating an additional safety concern for emergency crews at the airport.
The Pilatus PC-12 is a widely used single-engine turboprop aircraft commonly operated for business aviation and regional passenger services. The cost of repairing the aircraft has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Airport Remained Operational
Despite the crash and the damage to the aircraft, airport officials said the facility remained open and regular operations were not affected.
The incident has nevertheless raised questions about security around general-aviation facilities, where aircraft and ground equipment are often parked close to perimeter fencing.
A breach by a speeding vehicle can therefore create significant risks even when an airport’s main operations continue normally.
Teen Faces Multiple Charges
Police identified the driver as a 17-year-old New Hampshire resident.
He faces misdemeanor charges including aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, disobeying a police officer and conduct after an accident.
He has also been accused of reckless driving, listed as a violation-level charge.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
