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A close call for a New Jersey family occurred when a large piece of ice, believed to have fallen from an aircraft, shattered their home’s roof.
On Wednesday evening around 9:30 p.m., the family from Paterson, NJ, was nearly hit by the descending mass of ice while sitting just 12 feet away in their backyard.
Sabrina Gomez recounted to News 12 New Jersey the sudden sound followed by a heavy impact, expressing relief that nobody was hurt.
Security footage captured the family’s shocked reaction as the ice fell from the sky. Paul Gomez described the falling block as “big stones” that destroyed everything it hit.
The Gomez household is situated beneath multiple flight paths, casting suspicion on overhead aircraft as the source of the ice.
Afterwards, the family discovered their front driveway strecovered with ice shards, and realized the extensive damage might necessitate a full roof replacement.
The incident prompted the family to file a report with the FAA, who are expected to investigate the possibility of the ice being dislodged from a plane.
This event echoes a previous case from August 2023 in Shirley, Massachusetts, where a home was struck by a large ice chunk. Jeff Ilg and Amelia Rainville were at home during the incident, which they likened to an explosion.
Despite the startling noise, their children managed to sleep through the commotion. Upon investigation, they found a significant hole in their roof and pieces of ice in their attic.
Ilg suspected the ice had broken off an airplane on its way to Boston Logan International Airport.
The FAA explains that ice can accumulate on airplanes when they encounter supercooled water, which instantaneously freezes upon contact with an aircraft during certain atmospheric conditions.
This phenomenon occurs most frequently when an airplane flies through moist, warm air above a cold air mass, entering a zone with supercooled water droplets that freeze upon contact.
with Post wires
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FAQs about Ice Falling from Airplanes
- Can ice really fall from an airplane?
- Yes, ice can accumulate on the external surfaces of an aircraft and fall off either in-flight or during the descent and approach to the airport.
- How dangerous is falling ice from an aircraft?
- Falling ice poses a significant hazard as it can cause property damage or even injuries if it strikes individuals or animals on the ground.
- What should you do if ice from an airplane damages your property?
- If ice suspected to have fallen from an aircraft damages your property, you should report the incident to the local authorities and the FAA for investigation.
- How does the FAA investigate ice falling incidents?
- The FAA investigates such incidents by tracing back the flight paths of aircraft, checking for any reports of ice shedding from pilots, and analyzing meteorological conditions at the time of the incident.
- Is there any way to prevent ice from falling from planes?
- Airplane manufacturers design aircraft with systems to prevent ice buildup, such as heated wing edges and weeping wings that release anti-ice fluids. However, in certain atmospheric conditions, ice can still form and potentially break off.
