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Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Cockpit Fire

RED WING, Minn. (WCCO) – A plane had to make an emergency landing at the Red Wing Airport Thursday morning after its pilot reported smoke coming from the cockpit, authorities said.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department responded to the incident at about 7:55 a.m. The pilot, 29-year-old Beau J. Serchen, told authorities that there was a fire in the cockpit and smoke was present.

The plane was a twin engine 1976 Beechcraft that left the Anoka County Airport and was diverted to the Red Wing Airport after the fire was reported.

Serchen was able to put the fire out by cutting power to the plane's avionics, according to the sheriff's office. He was not injured in the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Also assisting at the scene was the Ellsworth Fire Department and the Pierce County Sherrif's Department.

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