05/19/2026
Westerly Fire Department Responds to Fatal Plane Crash Near Airport Road
On 5/18, shortly after noon, Westerly Dispatch alerted our volunteers to reports of a plane crash, initially believed to involve a fire.
It was quickly determined that the aircraft had crashed in a field near Stop & Shop on Airport Road, on the opposite side of the airport.
Engine 3 arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed there was no fire, while also requesting an additional tone for manpower. As a precaution, crews stretched a 2½-inch handline while Westerly Ambulance EMS personnel tended to the pilot. Tragically, the pilot later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Representatives from T.F. Green Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), NTSB, FAA, and Rhode Island State Police, Westerly Police Department all responded to the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the NTSB.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the pilot’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Units: Car 31, 34, 391, 393, 395; Engines 3, 4, 1; Special Hazards 1
https://www.westerlyfire.com/news/108/Westerly-Fire-Department-Responds-to-Fatal-Plane-Crash-Near-Airport-Road