Family Identifies Pilot Killed in New Bedford Plane Crash

NEW BEDFORD — The pilot who was killed when his plane crashed in New Bedford’s Rural Cemetery Monday afternoon has been identified by his family.

WCVB-TV reports that the family of 74-year-old Paul Vidal of Westport have identified him as the victim in the crash.

Vidal was the only person on board the 1977 Cessna 150 when it took off from the New Bedford Regional Airport just before 3 p.m. Monday. WCVB reports Vidal, who has been a licensed private pilot since at least February 2010, then spent about 20 minutes in the air before crashing. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.