Photo: Tom Brenner/AP/Shutterstock

Small plane rests on live power lines after crashing, in Montgomery Village, a northern suburb of Gaithersburg, Md Small Plane Crash Maryland, Montgomery Village, United States - 27 Nov 2022

A single-engine plane crashed into a power line in Maryland on Sunday, and its pilot and only passenger were rescued hours later.

Pilot Patrick Merkle, 66, of Washington, D.C. and passenger Janet Williams, 66, of Marrero, Louisiana were flying in a Mooney Mike 20P single engine plane when it crashed into the Montgomery County power line on Sunday evening, according to astate police release.

Before 6 p.m. on Sunday, Maryland State Police at the Rockville Barrack were sent to the location where they found the plane suspended in the air, state police shared.

Tom Brenner/AP/Shutterstock

First responders work to rescue aircraft passengers after the small plane crashed and became stuck in live power lines, in Montgomery Village, a northern suburb of Gaithersburg, Md. Both occupants were successfully rescued Maryland Small Plane Crash, Gaithersburg, United States - 28 Nov 2022

EMS rescued both passengers from the crash site using specialty crane/boom trucks around 1 a.m. on Monday, per the release. The passengers were taken to the local Suburban Hospital for medical treatment regarding orthopedic and trauma injuries from both the crash and resulting hypothermia, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Chief Scott Goldstein said, perCNN.

The fire department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The location — around Goshen Road and Rothbury Drive — was then temporarily closed, as the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have begun to investigate the crash, with assistance from the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division.

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service was in contact with the pilot and passenger during the rescue, per CNN, as Goldstein told reporters Sunday that the tower had to be “grounded or bonded” before the passengers could be assisted, perCNN.

In an effort to avoid static electricity or residual power, crews placed clamps or cables on wires, Goldstein shared, adding that rescuers also had to deal with foggy weather conditions. After grounding power lines at 11:30 p.m., a utility contractor assisted with securing the plane, CNN reported.

JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A small plane remains stuck after it crashed into power lines, knocking out electricity for tens of thousands of residents, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, 28 November 2022. The pilot and and one passenger were rescued. Small plane crashes into power lines in Maryland, Gaithersburg, USA - 28 Nov 2022

Using a mechanical lift, crews rescued the first person around 12:25 a.m. before rescuing another 10 minutes later. The plane was removed around 4 a.m., per Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson PetePiringer.

As a result of the crash, roughly 120,000 customers were without power Sunday, before it was restored on Monday, per thePepco utility company.

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William Smouse, a local who lives roughly a mile away from the crash site, toldWJLAon Sunday that he saw “two big flashes,” calling the crash “pretty scary.”

source: people.com