WEST COLUMBIA — A plane crash on Aug. 12 caused Columbia Metropolitan Airport to close for over two hours.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. when the landing gear of a small, private Velocity XL RG aircraft collapsed upon landing on the airport’s main runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the single passenger aboard was unharmed, according to a report from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Airport spokesperson Kim Crafton confirmed the details on Aug. 13 but did not provide additional comments. The airport initially described the situation as a plane that had “become disabled.” Operations resumed around 4 p.m. after the aircraft was cleared from the runway; however, the airport’s secondary runway was closed for construction, and all flights were halted during the incident.
Interim CEO Gregg Hornsby praised the airport staff’s coordinated response, comparing it to “almost like a ballet.” He noted the brief notification period to communicate the reopening by 5 p.m., which was efficiently handled in less than three hours.
The aircraft involved was registered in Tequesta, Florida, and measures 20 feet in length, accommodating a maximum of five passengers. The FAA is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Andy Tsubasa Field and Tiffany Tan contributed to this report.