A small plane crash at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Wednesday resulted in injuries to a physician and a pilot, as confirmed by UNC Health and RDU Airport officials. The incident involved a UNC Air Operations medical plane that was transporting Dr. Paul Chelminski, an internal medicine physician with UNC Health, back from a lecture at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Dr. Chelminski was taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and was discharged later in the afternoon. The pilot, identified as Art Johnson, who has been with UNC since 2013, was transported to Duke University Hospital in Durham and is currently listed in fair condition.
UNC Health expressed their concern for the well-being of the individuals involved and extended gratitude to the first responders who assisted at the scene. The crash led to the closure of the airfield for flight operations, with one runway reopening for departing and arriving flights before noon.
Local television footage captured debris on the ground and significant damage to the front and side of the aircraft. An aviation expert suggested that the wreckage indicated a possible issue during approach or landing, with noticeable damage to the engine, wings, and tail section.
The cause of the crash remains undisclosed, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board now leading the investigation into the incident.
