By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

If you drove by Blueberry Plains Monday afternoon, you most likely saw the unusual sight of a Cessna sitting in the middle of the field. 

Sanford Fire Department received a call from Portland International Jetport at 12:08 p.m. Monday because they lost communications with a plane reporting engine trouble three miles east of the Sanford Regional Airport. The plane had just departed the Biddeford Municipal Airport.

Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Rowe said with help from Portland International Jetport and other planes in the area, the fire department was able to receive a GPS location of the plane after it made an emergency landing in the middle of the field and respond quickly.

Rowe said the plane landed four miles from the Sanford Regional Airport and over the Kennebunk town line. While Kennebunk Fire Department also responded, Rowe said the Sanford units continued to the scene because they were already in the area. 

The plane landed in one piece, with both wheels on the ground, Rowe said and the two passengers walked away from the scene with no injuries. 

“The response went well,” Rowe said. “It was a real team effort.”

On scene, plane owner Tim Campbell of Lawrence, Mass. was asked to report the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration to further prevent similar incidences, Rowe said. The cause of the emergency landing is under investigation, but Rowe said most likely due to engine failure. As of press time, he did not release the names of the passengers.