For California Highway Patrol officer Ricardo Ayala, saving passengers from a plane crash on Jan. 29 was just another day at the office, but for Goleta, his actions made him a hero.
On Tuesday, the Goleta City Council celebrated Ayala with a certificate of recognition for saving two passengers from the small plane crash last month.
The single-engine Cirrus SR22T went down on Bishop Ranch, north of the freeway between Glen Annie Road and Los Carneros Road, and caught fire after the crash.
Ayala rescued a 29-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman who were aboard the aircraft.
Goleta Councilman James Kyriaco presented Ayala with the certificate that told the story of Ayala’s heroic actions on the day of the crash.
“Officer Ayala jumped a chain link freeway perimeter fence, sprinted towards the burning plane and pulled the injured pilot away while the passenger managed to self-extricate from the aircraft,” Kyriaco read from the certificate.
Noozhawk reported last month that Ayala was in the process of citing a motorist with a traffic infraction when he was startled by an explosion.
He saw the plane’s deployed parachute, let the motorist off with a warning and rushed up the freeway toward the scene.
Ayala reportedly climbed over a chain-link fence, ran up the hill toward the burning plane and was able to pull the pilot away from the burning wreckage.
Meanwhile, a female occupant of the plane had managed to get herself out of the wreckage and was helped to safety by a civilian bystander.
Both victims were transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Their names and details of their conditions have not been released to the public.
“Because of Officer Ayala’s quick thinking, bravery and decisiveness as a first responder, his actions resulted in saving lives from the airplane crash,” Kyriaco read. “Officer Ayala is a testament to the unwavering dedication of public safety service and to those who risk their lives to save others.”
Ayala received a standing ovation from the council and members of the public in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Michael Logie, Ayala’s commanding officer, said Ayala treated the incident like it was any another day at the office and that anyone would have done what he did.
“I’m very proud of him, the moment and the acts that he did, without even thinking, just responding and reacting based on his training, who he is as a person, to go and save two people’s lives,” Logie said, praising Ayala’s actions.
Ever the humble hero, Ayala didn’t say much when he accepted his certificate, but he did thank the city for the recognition and said that it’s just what he signed up to do.
“I bet you think you’re not a hero, but we know you are,” Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said. “All our first responders are heroes, but you saw the opportunity and you just did it.”
Ayala declined Noozhawk’s request to comment for this story.