The Perelman family, who survived a plane crash and saved the pilot and co-pilot from the burning wreckage on January 2. Photo: Instagram/Susieperelman
Passengers on a small plane which crashed and burst into flames ‘immediately after takeoff‘ at an airstrip near Serengeti National Park are being credited with saving the lives of the pilot and co-pilot.
The passengers, a man, his wife and three children, were able to escape the burning wreckage with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the man then returned to pull out the unconscious pilots.
“Somehow, he was able to keep his wits around him,” says Todd Reidbord, a family friend and colleague.
Mara Region police commander Ramadhani Ng’hazi says the Air Excel plane was being piloted by Mohammed Suleiman and co-piloted by Fahd Saleh, who were listed in critical condition after being airlifted to Nairobi.
Ng’hazi identified the passengers as the Perelman family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States.
