
Sightseeing plane makes emergency landing on Massachusetts beach
Sarah Sullivan and her 11-year-old cousin, Poppy, had just taken off for the tour when the plane's engine failed mid-flight.
Engine failed mid-flight
"He told us that we were going to have to crash land on the beach," said Sullivan. "So he told us to just tighten our seatbelts and brace ourselves."
Sullivan said the landing went smoothly. She panicked on the way down, holding on and bracing for what she thought would be a big impact, but she said the pilot pulled it off seamlessly.
"Within minutes we were on the sand," Sullivan said. "He made a really safe landing and we glided right through because the engine wasn't working, we glided right through onto the sand."
Crash landing on the beach
Sullivan credits the pilot's calm demeanor and quick thinking for their safe return to land. She said that he trained for this type of landing and knew exactly where to take the plane.
"I'm very, very thankful. He was very calm and collected the entire time, which helped us stay a lot more calm than I was feeling internally," she said. "And right when we got down, he asked us, made sure we were OK and was kind of walking us through what was happening and what was going to happen next."
Though the cousins made it out safely, the close call left a lasting impression. Sullivan said it was her first time on a plane that small, and, understandably so, she added it would probably be her last.
"I didn't know how it was going to go," she said. "He said that he's never had to do that before either, he had the safety training that that was a safe spot to land and told us that he's never had to do it before. So we're very lucky.
It was a terrifying experience, and Sullivan said she considers herself very lucky to have made it out without a scratch.
Statement from plane company
Classic Aviators, the company that runs the plane tours, said in a statement that both passengers are "safe and sound" and the pilot, Mike, and plane have since returned safely. They confirmed an "unforeseen engine issue" caused the pilot to land on the beach.
"We thank Mike for doing what was needed with care, dedication and years of hard work and training," said Classic Aviators, in a statement posted on their Facebook page.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
T.S.A. to Let Travelers Keep Their Shoes On, Ending Hated Rule
Travelers at some airports, including LaGuardia, may no longer need to undergo one of the most loathed requirements of security screening. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Transportation Security Administration is letting people keep their shoes on. In recent days, the T.S.A. began dropping its requirement for travelers to remove shoes, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The agency has not officially announced this change and did not confirm the new policy, which appears to be taking effect at airports across the country. 'T.S.A. and D.H.S. are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,' a T.S.A. spokesman said. 'Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.' The change was first reported by Gate Access, a travel newsletter written by Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who says he is a former T.S.A. officer. He added that he had seen a soft launch of the new policy at an airport as well as an internal memo briefing officers about it. The new policy is good for passengers and is long overdue, Mr. Harmon-Marshall said in an emailed statement. He added that officers would now be able to screen travelers more swiftly. 'They should feel relieved knowing that technology has advanced so significantly that T.S.A. officers can detect threats while wearing shoes,' he added. 'In the old days, this wasn't the case.' The T.S.A. has been requiring passengers to remove their shoes since 2006, nearly five years after a terrorist tried to detonate an explosive in his shoe while aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. Travelers pay for the privilege for keeping their shoes on, one of the hallmarks of the T.S.A.'s PreCheck program, which costs roughly $80 for five years and grants expedited screening. Mr. Harmon-Marshall said in his statement that he believed a 'huge shift' was underway with the PreCheck program. The T.S.A. knows that allowing standard travelers access to perks like keeping on their shoes 'will significantly diminish the value of PreCheck,' he added. Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2025.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
These 4 Oregon beach towns among the best on the West Coast, according to Conde Nast Traveler
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Condé Nast Traveler released a list of the 13 best beach towns on the West Coast – with four Oregon beach towns earning spots on the list. The list, published June 23, spans 'surfing spots in California to the moody coastlines of the Pacific Northwest.' 'Hawaii and the East Coast tend to attract the most attention (we get it), but there's something about West Coast beach towns that just hits differently,' Traveler said. 'Maybe it's the raw power of the Pacific, or maybe it's their proximity to some of the country's most stunning landscapes. Regardless, these coastal towns in Washington, Oregon, and California are well worth planning a trip around.' 'Outdoor paradise': CNN names this Oregon town among best to visit in 2025 The first Oregon beach town named on the list: Astoria. Astoria, near the meeting point between the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, 'is a fitting metaphor for the city itself—a crossroads of cultures and histories that somehow flow perfectly together,' Traveler said. 'The past is on display via hillside Victorian homes and old salmon canneries, and you can honor the town's Nordic roots at the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival each June. But quirky establishments such as Weird Sisters Freak Boutique and Fort George Brewery are very much in the present (and very Oregon). For an only-in-Astoria experience, ride the Riverfront Trolley to Pier 39, where you can see colonies of sea lions gathering on the docks,' Traveler recommended. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The next Oregon beach town on the list: Bandon. 'Bandon is the perfect transition between California and Oregon—it has the same soft, golden sand you'll find further south, as well as the epic rock formations (and indisputable Oregon coolness) as its northerly neighbors. Get some of the best views along the five-mile Beach Loop Drive, or walk down the stairs at Coquille Point and try to spot sea lions and—if you're lucky—a gray whale or two. Then head back inland to Old Town Bandon for seafood shacks, old-fashioned candy shops, and indie bookstores,' Traveler wrote. Cannon Beach, Oregon also scored a spot on the list. 'Drive about 80 miles northwest of Portland and you'll wind up on one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the country: Cannon Beach,' Traveler said. 'Known for Haystack Rock—a 235-foot monolith protruding out of the water, best viewed from nearby Ecola State Park or the guest rooms at Stephanie Inn—the eponymous village on the shore was officially incorporated in 1957. It's popular today for its cute chocolate shops, art galleries, microbreweries, and cozy vacation rentals' Newly-opened Portland s'mores bar expands with suburban outpost The last Oregon spot on the list: Florence. 'The Oregon Dunes stretch for nearly 50 miles on the state's central coastline, making the site one of the largest expanses of oceanfront sand dunes in the world. (Need even more bragging rights? The huge, windswept piles of sand inspired Frank Herbert to write Dune in 1965.) To best explore the natural wonder, set up camp in the cute town of Florence, Oregon, on the northern end of the dunes. Not only does the riverfront community offer easy access to the Oregon Dunes and Heceta Head Lighthouse, but its Old Town has plenty of seafood restaurants and jaw-dropping views to keep you busy between sandy excursions,' Traveler said. Among the top California beach towns, Traveler named Point Reyes Station, California, followed by Avalon, California; Carmel-by-the-sea, California; Newport Beach, California and Sausalito, California. Other beach towns on the list include Friday Harbor, Washington; Sequim, Washington; Port Angeles, Washington and Port Townsend, Washington. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Wall Street Journal
3 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
TSA to Allow Shoes to Stay On for Airport Security Screening
After nearly 20 years of passengers having to take off their shoes while going through airport security, they might soon get a break. The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out new procedures to allow passengers to keep shoes on while passing through standard airport screening checkpoints, according to people familiar with the matter.