A pilot had little choice but to temporarily leave his seaplane beached in Innisfil over the weekend.
South Simcoe Police Service were called for a bylaw complaint when a neighbour reported a plane parked on the beach at Innisfil Beach Park in Innisfil on Sunday morning.
Police report that they spoke with the owner, who explained he was waiting for the arrival of a mechanic to fix the plane after high winds had unmoored the plane and damaged it, causing the plane to begin sinking into Lake Simcoe.
While officers attend a range of incidents, this was a first.
“Called for a plane on the beach — that is not a usual type of call,” Sue Sgambati, communications specialist for the police, said.
According to a press release, the 31-year-old Ottawa pilot had flown to Innisfil on Friday afternoon to attend a bachelor party, after which the guests had gone to sleep. Then, a neighbour woke the pilot around 6:30 a.m. Saturday to alert him to the sinking plane.
Police say the pilot and other guests jumped into the water and dragged the plane to land.
Once the plane was repaired, police say the pilot was able to fly home.
Police reported no injuries and say no one was charged — not even a parking ticket.
“Sometimes those things can take on a completely different overtone, depending on the circumstance, so thankfully, everyone was fine,” Sgambati said.
