No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling, but that was a chunk of metal that fell from a plane onto the Renton High School Baseball field last week during their game against Evergreen.

Midway through the bottom of the fourth inning of the April 21 game at Renton High School, play was briefly stopped when a small, conical piece of metal landed just behind the infield between the Renton third basemen and shortstop.

The part did not hit anyone and no one was injured.

Few saw it fall, but the Evergreen third-base coach quickly called time out and jogged out to retrieve the item, which he said was too hot to pick up and then kicked off the playing field where it was allowed to cool.

Airport Assistant Manager Jonathan Wilson recovered the part on Thursday and said it is a flame arrester from a small plane. The plane from which it originated is unknown.

“The flame arrestor is located on the inside of the muffler of the aircraft which is inside the engine cowling. It broke off from within the muffler and ejected through the muffler pipe with the escaping gasses,” he said in an email.

Wilson said he has been with the airport for almost seven years and does not recall anything like this happening before.

If someone does see something similar or find a random airplane part, Wilson said they should call the airport office at 425-430-7471 and report the date, time and location so airport officials can take action.