Mayor

Glider Crashes Into Roof of Danbury Home

A pilot walked away with only minor injuries after a glider crashed into a home in Danbury Tuesday, going through the roof and causing damage to the building.

According to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, the glider crashed into a home on Golden Hill Avenue. The pilot went through the roof and came out the other side - in the home's attic.

Manny Furtado heard the crash and called 911.

“Three of us went upstairs and walked into the attic. (The pilot) was up there. We told him to come down and he said not until he finds his glasses," Furtado said.

The FAA confirmed the Alisport Light Sport Aircraft crashed around 4 p.m. and that the pilot was the only person on board. The pilot is expected to be OK, but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

No one else was hurt, though a mother and two children who live in the home were taken to the hospital for evaluation.

“She said her and her two young children were watching TV downstairs. Then she heard somebody talking all of a sudden and heard a bang. Then she got out of the house," explained neighbor Charlie Gavell.

According to the Danbury Fire Department, the aircraft took off from Danbury Municipal Airport and lost power, forcing the pilot to try an emergency landing.

The aircraft does not use fuel so there is no fire risk.

“It’s a very light aircraft. So fortunately there wasn’t too much damage to the home. Of course there is a hole in the roof. But structurally the house is not all that significantly damaged that we can see," said Danbury Fire Chief TJ Wiedl.

The residents will stay elsewhere until repairs are made.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate.

More information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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