Wind Gusts Force Down Small Airplane in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County Airport has reopened after wind gusts pushed a small plane off the runway.

An airport spokeswoman says a Piper Archer airplane was hit by the gusts as the pilot practiced his landings and takeoffs at around 1:45 p.m. Sunday. The plane was forced down in mid-takeoff and pushed onto a grassy area on the side of the runway.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the pilot was uninjured. The plane’s nose gear sustained some damage.

The airport closed after the incident and reopened at around 3:30 p.m.