:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20709691/130759762.0.jpg)
A small plane carrying a banner crashed on Flavet Field on the University of Florida campus on Saturday, just hours before Florida's game against Arkansas, according to many, many tweets from people near the incident.
A PLANE JUST CRASHED BY FLAVET HOLY SHIT
— Nick Zeak (@NickZeak) October 5, 2013
A plane just landed at Flavet Field
— playmaker. (@mykuhlann) October 5, 2013
Stay clear of flavet field. Plane crash, no fatalities.
— Clay Reynolds (@ClayDReynolds) October 5, 2013
Florida student Wade Millward was first to snap and tweet a picture of the scene:
Tailgators stare at downed aircraft on Flavet Field in Gainesville hours before Gator football game. @WUFTNews pic.twitter.com/xvALMkNAgo
— Wade Millward (@WadeMillward) October 5, 2013
More pictures and information followed shortly after, and it seems that while the plane, carrying a banner advertising either GEICO or McDonald's, did crash land, there were, fortunately, no fatalities, just injuries sustained by both people in the plane:
Plane crash at Flavet Field in Gainesville where people tailgate. Pilot is out of the plane. pic.twitter.com/vAgpEhEZaF
— Greg (@hicks_gregory) October 5, 2013
#Geico ad plane crash on Flavet field. According to UFPD no injuries. #rtv2100 @WUFTNews
— Alexis Harrison (@alexismharrison) October 5, 2013
Plane crash at Flavet field before UF game witnesses say occupants survived pic.twitter.com/xgYTUBzU5L
— Cindy (@cindyswirko) October 5, 2013
To recap: A banner plane went down near Flavet Field on UF's campus. No reported injuries, according to GPD. UPD hasn't spoken to press.
— The Alligator (@TheAlligator) October 5, 2013
@AlligatorArmy McDonalds Ad. The banner landed near us north of alumni hall
— Jonathan Davis (@CoachjDavis44) October 5, 2013
Florida's official @GatorZoneNews account issued a statement in three tweets:
UPDATE - a small plane attempted an emergency landing at an open area of Flavet Field and has crashed (1/3)
— Florida Gators (@GatorZoneNews) October 5, 2013
The plane landed upside down on a vacant pick up truck. Both pilots were ejected and transported to a local hospital. (2/3)
— Florida Gators (@GatorZoneNews) October 5, 2013
No additional injuries to report at this time. Will release any further info as it becomes available (3/3).
— Florida Gators (@GatorZoneNews) October 5, 2013
Flavet Field is a large open space about a half-mile southwest of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and is a popular spot for tailgaters on the University of Florida campus.
That the only injuries from this event were suffered by the passengers of the plane, according to The Gainesville Sun, and seemingly not life-threatening ones, would seem to be a good outcome from a strange accident. And let's hope that remains true as more information becomes available.
Andy Hutchins is Alligator Army's managing editor. Follow Alligator Army on Twitter and Facebook.