STOW, MA – A small single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area at 181 Taylor Road in Stow on Sunday, July 23, 2023, drawing a massive response from multiple emergency agencies across the region.
Stow Fire Department received a report of the crash at 1:06 p.m. The first responders to the scene were Engine 14, Engine 12, Rescue 17, and Car 20, who arrived to find the aircraft inverted in the woods, having apparently taken off from nearby Minuteman Airfield. On their arrival, the firefighters began the process of extricating two passengers who were trapped within the wreckage of the downed plane. A third person had managed to self-extricate before the first responders arrived on the scene.
The coordinated response drew assistance from Maynard Fire and Boxborough Fire Departments, who dispatched ambulances to transport two of the injured passengers from the scene to a designated landing zone to be flown to an area hospital. Stow Rescue 17 transported the third victim, who had managed to self-extricate from the crashed plane.
Additional support came from Hudson Fire, who supplied personnel and equipment, and Professional EMS who sent paramedics to assist with the treatment of the injured. To ensure the safe landing of medical evacuation helicopters, Stow Engine 18 and Stow Engine 19 secured a landing zone at Minuteman Airfield. The Lancaster Fire Department also provided support by dispatching an engine to stand by for any other incidents in the town while local crews focused on the plane crash rescue operation.
Also involved in the response were officers from the Stow Police Department, Maynard Police Department, and Boxborough Police Department, who arrived at the scene and assisted with patient care, working alongside the Firefighters and EMTs. In an intense operation that demonstrated exceptional teamwork and rapid response, three patients were eventually airlifted from the scene to local trauma centers. Despite the severity of the incident, the injuries sustained by the victims were reported to be serious but non-life-threatening.
A Boston MedFlight helicopter and two UMass LifeFlight helicopters were instrumental in the evacuation of the crash victims, underlining the vital role of these services in responding to emergency situations. As of now, the cause of the crash is unknown and will be under investigation by the relevant authorities. The identities of the injured have not been released. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the invaluable role of our emergency services in safeguarding our communities.
