‘Explosion, fire. It’s behind my house’ – 911 calls released from Colonia plane crash

Authorities have released 911 calls from the day that a small plane crashed into a home in the Colonia section of Woodbridge.

News 12 Staff

Nov 4, 2019, 4:49 PM

Updated 1,796 days ago

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Authorities have released 911 calls from the day that a small plane crashed into a home in the Colonia section of Woodbridge.
The crash happened Oct. 29. Dr. Michael Schloss, a cardiologist, was piloting a twin-engine Cessna over New Jersey. He was flying from Virginia to Linden Airport along Routes 1 & 9 when the crash happened.
That plane fell to the ground and landed on a house on Berkley Avenue. The family of three was not at home. Schloss was the only one on board the plane and did not survive.
Neighbors sounded frantic as they called for help.
“Colonia, Water Street, explosion, fire. It’s behind my house,” said one caller.
"There was a huge bang and a crash and I can see flames and smoke coming up,” said another.
The home that the plane crashed into was destroyed. Two other homes were damaged by the spreading fire.
The National Transportation Safety Board has reported that Schloss never sent out a distress call and that the crash occurred within 3 miles of the airport after he was given clearance to land at Linden. Investigators are now looking over the remnants of the plane to find out if the plane suffered a mechanical malfunction or if the crash was due to pilot error.
A preliminary autopsy report found that Schloss had soot in his lungs, indicating that he was still alive after the plane went down. The NTSB is now working on its preliminary report.