5 people injured in plane crash in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, officials say

CBS News

10-03-2025

Five people were injured after a small plane crashed in the parking lot of a retirement community on Sunday in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, officials said.
The six-seat 1981 Beechcraft Bonanza plane took off from Lancaster Airport and crashed in the parking lot of the Brethren Village Retirement Community in Lititz at 3:18 p.m., Scott Little, the fire chief and emergency management director of Manheim Township said. The plane, which is owned by Jam Zoom Yayos LLC, was on its way to Springfield, Ohio, according to FlightRadar.
The five people onboard were taken to local hospitals for treatment, but their conditions aren't known. Little said nobody on the ground was hurt. Twelve vehicles were damaged in the crash, including five that were severely damaged.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting that the aircraft "has an open door, we need to return for a landing."
Duane Fisher, the Manheim Township chief of police, said it appears the plane skidded 100 feet after it crashed. A fire started in the parking lot at Brethren Village following the crash, but that has since been placed under control.
"I don't know if I consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing," Fisher said.
Officials initially asked residents at Brethren Village to shelter in place as a precaution due to the crash, but Fisher said he's confident all safety concerns in the area have been addressed.
Hazmat is on the scene to contain the fuel from the aircraft.
Gov. Josh Shapiro posted about the crash on X, saying that the Pennsylvania State Police are on the ground assisting first responders after the plane crash.
"All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available," Shapiro wrote.
The Federal Aviation Administration is at the scene and investigating the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will be working with the FAA on the investigation.
Philadelphia plane crash
The plane crash in Lancaster County is the second in Pennsylvania in 2025, amid several that have happened across the United States since January.
On Jan. 31, a medical jet crashed in Northeast Philadelphia near Roosevelt Mall into a densely populated area of the city. The crash left seven people dead, including all six people on board and another man inside his car on the street, and 24 people injured.
Four crew members from Jet Rescue Air Ambulance were killed along with 11-year-old pediatric patient Valentina Guzman Murillo, who had just wrapped up weeks of treatment at Shriner's Children's Hospital Philadelphia, and her mother Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
Last week, the NTSB released preliminary info on the crash and said the plane's cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was not recording and likely hadn't recorded audio for several years.
The flight was on its way to Springfield-Branson Airport in Missouri. It took off at 6:06 p.m. and the entire flight was less than one minute as the plane made a steep descent and crashed. Investigators said there were no distress calls received from the flight crew.
The preliminary report didn't provide a cause for the crash. The NTSB is expected to release a final report on the crash in 12 to 24 months.