• Light aircraft crashes near local airport after low-altitude incident
• Serious injuries reported as probe launched and power disrupted in the area

A light aircraft crashed near Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, California, after striking power lines during an attempted landing, in a dramatic incident captured by surveillance cameras.

Footage circulating online shows the plane flying extremely low before hitting electrical wires, flipping over and plunging into a parking area belonging to a nearby store while attempting to circle the airport.

Authorities said the rented aircraft was piloted by a 70-year-old man and had been airborne for only about 10 minutes before the crash. The pilot was found outside the wreckage in critical condition and taken to hospital.

A bystander who helped rescue him described the scene as extremely severe, saying parts of the pilot’s body were badly injured before he was pulled from the site with assistance from several people.

The crash also caused power outages in parts of the surrounding area, with emergency crews working to restore electricity.

The incident has reignited debate over the airport’s location in a densely populated neighborhood, with local activists pointing to previous near-disasters as calls for its closure grow.

The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that an official investigation has been opened into the cause of the crash.