Family says Minnesota pilot injured in China plane crash

Family members say a pilot from Minnesota survived a cargo plane crash that killed three other American crew members in China.

The plane veered off the runway upon takeoff at Shanghai's main airport Saturday, crashed and burst into flames.

Bill Johnson Jr. says it's a miracle his father, Bill Johnson Sr. is alive. He says his father was the chief pilot on the cargo plane and was supervising two other pilots when it went down.

The younger Johnson says another crew member pulled his father out of a hole in the side of the cockpit fuselage.

Family members say Johnson suffered lung injuries from inhaling smoke after the crash. Three other crew members suffered serious injuries. The elder Johnson is from Chanhassen.

The MD-11 cargo plane was operated by Zimbabwe-based Avient Aviation.

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