On Thursday, November 19, a harrowing event unfolded in East Aurora, N.Y. A single-engine plane crashed near the property owned by Buffalo Bills player Dion Dawkins. The pilot, whose identity remains undisclosed, was the sole occupant of the plane. At 11:16 a.m. local time, Buffalo Niagara International Airport alerted about mechanical issues with the plane. It had originated in Lansing, Mich., and was en route to White Plains, N.Y., but instead landed 353 miles northwest in East Aurora, which is 20 miles southeast of Buffalo.

Emergency Response and Actions

The pilot promptly called an emergency line, and the local air traffic controller tower guided him to the nearest airport, which was Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Airport Chief William Major confirmed that the team was on standby for the plane's arrival. At 11:22 a.m., the East Road fire control dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a small plane crash in a "small wooded area" near several residences, one of which is owned by Dawkins. By 11:29 a.m., the fire chief arrived on the scene. Both the East Road Fire Department and Jamison Road Fire Department responded and worked diligently to extinguish the fire, which took approximately 30 minutes.

Aftermath and Prayers

After the team's practice on that fateful day, Dawkins expressed his deep concern for the pilot's family. He said, "I just hope that the pilot's family is OK. I hope that they're doing all right, because somebody lost their life today. And I'm glad that my family is perfectly fine. The alarm systems, the security guards that are there and all other people that are involved that help keep us safe." Dawkins, who was preparing for practice when he learned about the crash, clarified that he doesn't live at the property but that his partner was present to check the mail, as reported by ESPN.

Neighbor's Perspective

One neighbor shared her harrowing experience with WKBW. She was in her kitchen when she saw "a big cloud of black smoke." She added, "I went down there and I saw smoke. I figured something was on fire, but I wasn't expecting a plane crash." The East Aurora Police Chief Patrick Welch emphasized the efforts of their team, stating, "Our people, our detectives, our officers, are on the ground, working with other agencies, assistants, and we're interviewing the neighborhood, the callers, anybody that might have seen something." The FAA and NTSB will conduct a thorough investigation, with the NTSB taking charge and providing further updates.