Plane Crash-Lands at Sarasota Bradenton Airport, Closing Runway For 2 1/2 Hours

Feb. 24, 2022

Feb. 23—MANATEE COUNTY — A twin-engine King Air aircraft with a landing gear issue belly-landed on the main runway and slid to the edge of the grass at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

The crash at 3:45 p.m. closed the airport's main runway for about 2 1/2 hours for removal of the aircraft and repair and cleaning of the runway, Rick Piccolo, the airport's president and CEO said Wednesday.

There were no injuries or fire.

"I don't think we lost any flights. Those that were on the ground were delayed and those due to arrive likely diverted to close airports and waited for the runway to reopen and came in late," Piccolo said in a text.

The twin turboprop aircraft can carry seven to nine passengers. The pilot was the only occupant of the plane.

The crash was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration which investigates aviation accidents.

This story was originally published February 23, 2022 10:52 AM.

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