Yesterday, a small Beechcraft Baron aircraft veered off the runway while landing at Palo Alto Airport and ended up in the marshland of Baylands Nature Preserve. Though no injuries were reported, the City of Palo Alto released a statement confirming the incident after it happened in the late afternoon.
Following the initial 911 call at 2:59 p.m., Palo Alto Fire Department hazardous materials crews were dispatched to tackle a fuel leak, and the airport was promptly closed off. With access to Baylands Nature Preserve restricted, emergency services worked diligently to contain the situation, and by 9:15 p.m., the aircraft had been safely recovered with no signs of fuel loss as the airport reopened. The nature preserve is set to reopen at 8 a.m. the following day.
Conducting a thorough environmental assessment, PAFD Hazmat inspectors decided to leave containment booms in place, initially set due to a suspected sheen on the water, as stated in an update from the city's website.
