A pilot was injured but was conscious and breathing after his plane crashed into the Colorado River in Mesa County on Tuesday afternoon.
The 59-year-old was rescued by a rafter, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. That rafter was Max Meneley from Gunnison. He spoke to KKCO, an NBC affiliate in Grand Junction, about the incident on Tuesday.
"We saw a plane fly low over the river," Meneley said. "About 15, 20 minutes later, we saw it crumpled up in a heap at the edge of the river. As we got closer we saw a guy walking around. He was pretty clearly injured."
The plane, which reportedly was a Kitfox aircraft, was partially submerged in the river.
"Before we got too close, we could see him standing and walking and so that was a huge relief," Meneley said. "That was the biggest thing was being able to see him and talk to him right off the bat and not have to do anything crazy."
It’s unclear what caused the plane to crash.
