Small Plane Crashes on California Soccer Field, Injures Woman and Pilot

A small plane attempting an emergency landing crashed in a soccer field at Heartwell Park in Long Beach, California, striking a woman in her 40s and injuring both her and the elderly male pilot. Both were transported to a hospital in moderate but stable condition. The plane, described as a glider or possibly an experimental aircraft, was found on its belly with broken landing gear but an intact fuselage. The incident occurred near Long Beach Airport, about 1.5 miles from the crash site, where the pilot may have been trying to land. Local authorities, including the Long Beach Fire Department and police, are investigating the crash. Officials, including Mayor Rex Richardson, noted that despite the severity of the emergency landing, there were no fatalities or serious injuries, and the situation could have been much worse.