A plane flying into Knox County Regional Airport, in Owls Head, and a burn permit on North Shore Drive created a ripe combination of factors that led to an emergency response by Fire, EMS, and law enforcement, Friday evening, Aug. 1, 2025.

The plane flying toward the landing strip at approximately 7:20 p.m. appeared to take a sudden deep dive for its descent, prompting a bystander on the ground to believe that the plane was in trouble. The bystander lost sight of the aircraft, but when scanning the vicinity, light smoke could be seen off in the distance, later confirmed as coming from a burn pile on Hurd Lane.

With fears of a possible plane crash, a 911 call was placed, drawing firefighters from Owls Head, Rockland, and South Thomaston, along with Rockland EMS, which is the contracted ambulance service of Owls Head, South Thomaston Ambulance, and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. However, with no specific location to aim for, some responding units turned into scouting parties, scanning the trees and open spaces, circling the airport property from whatever spots they could access, while other apparatus staged at the Owls Head Community Center.

As a verification process and not in the airport emergency policy, OHFD contacted Penobscot Island Air and verified that all PIA aircraft were on the ground, while KCSO did the same with Owls Head Transportation Museum.

The idea of launching Rockland FD’s drone was considered, according to OHFD Fire Chief Skip Hallett. However, Penobscot Island Air volunteered to put two planes in the air to scan the area from above.

In the end, it was a plane on the ground, off in a grassy area, but getting ready to take off again that may have been the culprit. They had just landed, they told Hallett, having gone from level cruise to what could be perceived as a steep plunge.

By 8 p.m., most emergency units were back at their stations; the original 911 call deemed unfounded. And a sense of relief among everyone that no plane crash had occurred.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com