A small plane piloted by former Walmart U.S. chief Bill Simon crash-landed near an Arkansas high school on Tuesday after technical troubles forced it to pop open an emergency parachute -- over the entire plane.
No one on board was seriously hurt, but police said that all three passengers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries along with the driver of a pick-up truck that the plane struck as it descended onto the street.
The video shows bystanders giggling at the strange sight of a parachute big enough to float an entire plane down to the ground, and speculating about whether it would land on a car.
WATCH— (Language) Viewer Video shows plane as it descended, landing on MLK Blvd. #ARnews pic.twitter.com/3l7WEGVDds— Tevin Wooten (@TevinWooten) November 3, 2015
Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout said in a news conference that the single-engine plane began experiencing difficulties immediately after takeoff. Simon and co-pilot Cliff Slincard tried to head to the nearest airfield, but the plane's oil pressure loss and dropping altitude forced them to deploy the chute.
"Given the proximity to the high school and the university, we're very fortunate no one was hurt any worse than they were and the plane didn't impact into a building," Stout said.
@5NEWS @fayflyer full video plane crash pic.twitter.com/lWHjG60KQ8— Frederick J. Turner (@fredjackturner) November 3, 2015
Simon stepped down from his post as U.S. CEO of the Arkansas-based retail giant last year after sagging nationwide sales.