Dropped phone triggers false plane crash alert near Mt. Pisgah

WESTMORE, Vt. (WCAX) – A hiker who dropped his phone off a cliff on Mount Pisgah set off a large emergency response near Lake Willoughby on Monday afternoon after the device automatically sent an alert of a possible plane crash.

Police and fire crews from more than a dozen agencies responded to the area, setting up at the South End Trailhead.

The Vermont Division of Fire and Safety and state police both used drones, and a nearby National Guard helicopter flew in to join in the effort. The hospital in Newport was also put on alert.

First responders on the scene tell WCAX the hiker didn’t realize his phone sent out the alert and that lack of cell service compounded the confusion.

“They had spoken to some of our resources here, but they didn’t realize it was coming from their phone because they didn’t have service,” said Vermont State Police Sgt. Nathan Handy. “They just got service in Lyndonville and contact us back and tell us they are fine, there was no emergency, and they were never in a plane.”

The search has since been called off.