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FAA: Wind gust flips small plane over at Portland International Jetport

The Cessna Skyhawk, which appears to be owned by a school in Massachusetts, was empty at the time it flipped over, according to the FAA.

PORTLAND, Maine — A small airplane was seen overturned Tuesday on the Portland International Jetport. 

The single-engine Cessna 172 was unoccupied at the time it was flipped over by a gust of wind around 3:10 p.m., according to preliminary information shared by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

A spokesperson with the jetport said in a news release that airport rescue and fire crews, as well as airport operations, responded after the parked and unoccupied plane flipped over "due to wind on the north apron."  

No injuries were reported, and a small fuel leak was contained with "no impact to storm drains," the spokesperson also said, adding that the owner of the plane was coordinating in its recovery. 

A search of the plane's registration number on the FAA registry indicates the plane was manufactured in 2000 and is owned by Bridgewater State University based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. 

The school has a flight training program, with Cessna 172R Skyhawk planes listed in its aircraft fleet. 

A representative with Northeast Air told NEWS CENTER Maine that the plane arrived from New Bedford, Massachusetts, just before noon. 

A report from FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, indicates the plane took off from Massachusetts around 10:30 a.m., traveled about 150 miles north to Maine, and did not appear to exceed 4,500 feet in altitude. Weather data indicate wind speeds at the jetport Tuesday had not exceeded 33 mph as of 5 p.m.

This story is developing and will be updated as information becomes available. 

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