Two people escaped injury after a Cessna 172 flipped over at John Wayne Airport on Nov. 7. The plane overturned around 2:30 p.m. after jet blast from a Boeing jet pushed it while it was taxiing behind United Airlines Flight 2611.
Jason Ryu wrote in an incident report that the small aircraft was struck by jet blast from a Boeing jet that had increased engine power to enter the runway. He said the resulting blast moved the aircraft, he could not maintain control of its movement, and it pitched forward and overturned completely.
John Wayne Airport and FAA
AnnaSophia Servin, a John Wayne Airport spokesperson, said there were no injuries reported and there was no impact to operations. The FAA and John Wayne Airport said an investigation into what happened is underway.
Kunal Gawli wrote that the pilot could not maintain enough distance from the Boeing jet because of ongoing construction near Dove Street. He said the jet blast lifted the tail of N57BM, then the aircraft rolled forward and flipped entirely.
The account from Ryu and Gawli adds a detail missing from the airport statement: both linked the overturn to jet blast, while the airport and FAA statements focused on the outcome and the investigation. For the people inside the plane, the immediate result was simple and fortunate — they got out without injury, and the aircraft ended the afternoon on its roof.
