Austin paddleboarders save pilot after small state-owned plane crashes into downtown lake

close

Video

Small plane crashes into lake in downtown Austin

One person was transported to a local hospital with "potentially serious injuries" after a small plane crashed into Lady Bird Lake near downtown Austin on Thursday afternoon (Citizen).

A game warden pilot for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department crashed a small plane into Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas, on Thursday afternoon.

One male patient was transported to a local hospital with "potentially serious injuries," Austin-Travis County EMS said. 

A spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said that the plane had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for a test flight. 

"The airplane had just come out of routine maintenance and the pilot was on a test flight when they reported mechanical issues which forced them to land the plane in Lady Bird Lake," a spokesperson for the department said. 

Videos posted on social media and the Citizen app appeared to show a paddleboarder helping the pilot from the wreckage. 

CALIFORNIA PLANE CRASHES IN STRAWBERRY FIELD, KILLING PILOT

The plane crashed west of the I-35 bridge, which is just south of Rainey St, a popular downtown area full of bars and restaurants. 

This drone footage from the Austin-Travis County EMS shows the plane submerged underwater.  (Austin-Travis County EMS)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Air traffic control alerted Austin Bergstrom International Airport to an inbound private aircraft that needed to make an emergency landing shortly before 2:00 p.m., a spokesperson for the airport told Fox News Digital. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesperson said that the National Transportation Safety Bureau will conduct an investigation into the crash. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.