The airplane was lowered to the ground by authorities about three hours after the occupants' rescue Monday morning. It was stabilized by a crane and the engine was separated from the plane and taken down individually, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said at a Monday afternoon news conference. The Mooney M20J single-engine plane was reported down about 4 miles northwest of Montgomery County Airpark about 5:40 p.m. Sunday, according to troopers and the Federal Aviation Administration. The area is home to the community of Montgomery Village.