Pilot dead after single-engine plane crashes into Merrimack River, officials say

One person died when a small plane crashed into the Merrimack River in Methuen Monday afternoon, officials said. 

The pilot of the aircraft was the only person on board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. Dive teams had been deployed in a recovery effort Monday afternoon, Methuen Assistant Fire Chief Michael Fluet said at a press conference.

Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit and Dive Team responded to the site and recovered the pilot’s body, Boston 25 News reported. State Police did not immediately return requests for comment from Boston.com Wednesday afternoon.

The North Andover fire and police departments were first notified that there was a possible plane crash on their side of the river at 2:15 p.m., North Andover Deputy Fire Chief Graham Rowe said at the press conference. He said the Lawrence Municipal Airport told officials that contact with the aircraft had been lost.

The actual location of the crash was later determined to be in Methuen, officials said. 

The plane was in a “remote location” and upside down in the water when officials arrived, Rowe said. The aircraft is a single-engine Van’s RV-6A, the FAA said.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. Representatives from both agencies were on scene Monday afternoon, according to officials. 

The incident comes less than 24 hours after a single-engine jet had to make an emergency landing in Cape Cod Sunday afternoon after suffering an engine issue. There were three people on board that plane, and no injuries were reported.

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