Arizona Men Critical After Plane Crash

Two Arizona men are in critical condition at an Amarillo hospital following a plane crash Tuesday afternoon at the Hooker airport.

The crash took place at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday after a 1967 Mooney M20F single-engine aircraft piloted by Terry L. Meil, 55, of Phoenix, Ariz., lost power while taking off south-bound from the Hooker Municipal Airport. The aircraft ended up in a field 300 yards to the southeast of the runway off Les White Industrial Road.

The pilot was taken by Hooker EMS to Memorial Hospital of Texas County in Guymon and later transported by Medi-Flight to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo with arm and internal injuries. He was listed in critical condition.

The passenger, John Henry Escalante, 34, of Maricopa, Ariz., was taken by Hooker EMS to a point near Optima, then transferred to Guymon EMS, who transported the man to the Texhoma airport, where he was then transported by Medi-Flight to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo with leg and internal injuries. He is also listed in critical condition.

The FAA has been notified and is investigating.