An experimental gyrocopter crashed near Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose on Monday, sending one person to the hospital and leaving another with minor injuries. The small aircraft came down on a property adjacent to Eastridge Mall, directly across from the airport runway at around 11:40 a.m. T he Federal Aviation Administration described the aircraft as an MTO-sport gyrocopter and noted it bore the word “experimental.” It remains unclear whether the aircraft was taking off or landing at the time of the crash. The FAA is currently investigating the incident. According to the fire officials, one person was transported to a local hospital, while a second individual was treated and released at the scene. A man who was brought in to help tow the wreckage away expressed relief that the situation wasn’t worse. “Not good,” he said of the crash. “He’s OK, though. He’s alive.” The crash’s proximity to a bustling shopping center has renewed community concerns regarding the airport’s location. Juan Gonzalez, who visited the scene to record the incident for his TikTok channel, expressed fear over the potential danger to shoppers and drivers. “It’s close to the mall, so we come all the time,” Gonzalez said. “We’re scared if it’s flying, falls down on one of the trucks or a car.” Gonzalez added that the incident might reignite the ongoing debate about shutting down the airport entirely. “Yeah, it’s too close, you know, to the community,” he said. “Maybe close is the best option.” The future of Reid-Hillview Airport has been a topic of intense local discussion for several years. Currently, the county-owned facility is not slated to close until 2031. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less