A small plane with one person onboard crashed into Lady Bird Lake around 2 p.m. Thursday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
Medics say the plane crashed just west of the I-35 bridge in downtown Austin. The pilot, a game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with "potentially serious injuries," ATCEMS said.
The TPWD employee was flying the plane as part of a test flight following routine maintenance, department spokesperson Cory Chandler said. Once in the air, he reported having mechanical issues with the 2009 Cessna T206 plane.
Photos and videos from bystanders appeared to show paddleboarders and kayakers helping the pilot after the crash.
The plane was left submerged in the lake just west of the I-35 overpass. Chandler said teams are working on a plan to remove it.
UPDATE: #ATCEMSSPARTAN drone video showing the aircraft submerged just below the surface. pic.twitter.com/wexI9MqpQS
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 16, 2022
Plane crash in Lady Bird Lake in downtown #ATX …plane barely missed 35 and went in nose first & is resting on bottom…can see left wing which is bent and the tail of the single engine prop plane…only occupant got out immediately and was picked up by kayakers and taken to shore. pic.twitter.com/WOAIjQu5O3
— Artie Schweitzer (@ArtieSchweitzer) June 16, 2022