Small plane crashes in fireball outside Pennsylvania retirement home, injuring five
A small plane crashed in the parking lot of a Pennsylvania retirement community on Sunday, injuring five people and setting several cars as well as the aircraft itself on fire.
'I don't know what played into it but it veered left,' Brian Pipkin, who was visiting the Brethen Village retirement community at the time of the crash, told Lancaster Online. 'It just nosedived.'
He said he saw two people in the grass near the wreck with black marks on their bodies. Five people were on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Independent has contacted local fire and police departments for comment.
Footage of the scene appears to show the tail section of a small aircraft on fire alongside multiple flaming cars. Smoke was scene surrounding vehicles in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Multiple medics and ambulances were on scene at the Lancaster County crash, which took place in the Lititz section of Manheim Township, near the Lancaster Airport, WGAL reports.
They were called around 3:15 p.m.
The crash and emergency response have shut down nearby Route 501, according to the broadcaster.
The aircraft is a Beechcraft A36TC, according to NBC News.
It requested to land shortly after taking off from Lancaster Airport with an open door, per the outlet.
Air traffic control directed the Beechcraft to turn around, and at one point said it couldn't hear the radio traffic because of all the wind noise.
'Pull up,' a controller could be heard saying on air traffic control audio obtained by the outlet.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board is also expected to provide additional information.
'Our team at [the Pennsylvania State Police] is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township,' Governor Joseph Shapiro wrote on X. 'All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.'
The crash comes at a time of heightened scrutiny towards the U.S. air industry, following crashes including a mid-air collusion outside of Washington in February and a Delta flight that flipped over on the runway in Toronto later that month.
A medical evacuation plane operated by Mexico-based Jet Rescue Air Ambulance also crashed in Philadelphia last month.
The Trump administration has reportedly pushed to work with White House adviser Elon Musk's company SpaceX to incorporate Starlink satellite internet technology into the U.S. air traffic control system.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
'Mystery object' flew off Air India plane seconds before crash
The object was caught in footage filmed just before plane crashed. Footage that emerged after Thursday's tragic plane crash in India appears to show an object flying from the aircraft just moments before it went down, killing 241 people on board. The video that was filmed in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, shows a dark object seemingly becoming detached from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner before the plane crashes and explodes into flames. While it's not clear exactly what the object was, there has been speculation that it could be one of the plane's emergency doors - possibly the one next to which the only survivor of the crash, British man Viswash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was sitting. The exact cause of the crash hasn't been established yet and investigators are analysing the footage while looking for the debris at the site where the plane came down. The investigation is also understood to be focusing on the engine, flaps and landing gear, reports the Mirror. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, has since been recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marks an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The black box will reveal information about the engine and control settings, in addition to what the voice recorder will show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. The country's civil aviation regulator also ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. That includes checks of the fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control system, hydraulic system and take-off parameters, the order said. Investigators continued searching the site of the crash - one of India's worst aviation disasters - today, Friday, June 13, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lone surviving passenger in hospital. Sharing details of his experience before the crash, Vishwash, who was in seat 11A, explained the lights on the plane "started flickering" just seconds after the plane took off - and shortly after, it crashed. The Brit told the Hindustan Times: "When I saw the exit, I thought I could come out. I tried, and I did. Maybe the people who were on the other side of the plane weren't able to." He added: "I don't know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble." After Viswash was confirmed to be the only survivor, his family also said he had "no idea" how he managed to escape alive. While they were glad that he did, they were left heartbroken as his brother Ajay, who was also on the flight, didn't survive. Another brother of the pair, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, spoke from outside the family home in Leicester and said: "We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. He said I have no idea how I exited the plane." A relative, Jay, added that Viswash spoke to his dad following the crash. He said: "He's got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He was pretty much covered in blood, that's what his dad said." He added: "He's doing well I think. It's a big shock. I don't have many words to describe the incident."
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Mystery object seen flying off Air India plane' seconds before tragic crash
Footage of the Air India plane crash shows a dark object seemingly getting detached from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and flying into the air before the plane explodes into flames A video that emerged after Thursday's tragic plane crash in India appears to show an object flying from the aircraft just moments before it went down, killing 241 people on board. Footage filmed in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, shows a dark object seemingly becoming detached from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner before the plane crashes and explodes into flames. While it's not clear exactly what the object was, there has been speculation that it could be one of the plane's emergency doors - possibly the one next to which the only survivor of the crash, British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was sitting. The cause of the crash hasn't been established yet and investigators are analysing the footage while looking for the debris at the site where the plane came down. The investigation is also understood to be focusing on the engine, flaps and landing gear. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marks an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device will reveal information about the engine and control settings, in addition to what the voice recorder will show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. That includes checks of the fuel parameters, cabin air compressor, engine control system, hydraulic system and take-off parameters, the order said. Investigators on Friday continued searching the site of the crash - one of India's worst aviation disasters - and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the lone surviving passenger in hospital. Sharing details of his experience before the crash, Vishwash, who was in seat 11A, explained the lights on the plane "started flickering" just seconds after the plane took off - and shortly after, it crashed. The British national told the Hindustan Times: "When I saw the exit, I thought I could come out. I tried, and I did. Maybe the people who were on the other side of the plane weren't able to." He added: "I don't know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble." After Vishwash was confirmed to be the only survivor, his family also said he had "no idea" how he escaped alive. While they were glad that he did, they were left heartbroken as his brother Ajay, who was also on the flight, didn't survive. Another brother of the pair, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, spoke from outside the family home in Leicester and said: "We were just shocked as soon as we heard it. I last spoke to him yesterday morning. We're devastated, just devastated. He said I have no idea how I exited the plane." A relative called Jay added that Vishwash spoke to his dad following the crash. He said: "He's got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He was pretty much covered in blood, that's what his dad said." He added: "He's doing well I think. It's a big shock. I don't have many words to describe the incident."
Leader Live
7 hours ago
- Leader Live
WATCH: HMS Dragon crew members parade through Wrexham
The crew of the Type 45 destroyer marched through the heart of the city centre before being hosted at an official reception to cement the bond. The ship was adopted by Wrexham last summer and civic leaders promptly bestowed their highest honour upon the Portsmouth-based warship and her ship's company. (Image: Newsquest) Their hectic schedule – which included a milestone first takedown of a supersonic missile by the Royal Navy during NATO exercises off the coast of northwest Scotland in May – has prevented the ship's company from exercising their right until now, although some sailors were able to take part in Wrexham's Remembrance events. Since then, when Dragon's demanding programme has allowed, the 200-strong ship's company had been preparing for the hometown visit, including undertaking specific drill training to reach the highest standards required for the march. 'Today is a proud moment for HMS Dragon and a fitting opportunity to demonstrate the professionalism of our sailors, marching in full ceremonial dress, with drums beating, flags flying and bayonets fixed, as a mark of respect and gratitude to the people of Wrexham." (Image: Newsquest) Gresford councillor Jeremy Kent said: "Today, we were incredibly proud to welcome 156 members of HMS Dragon's ship's company to Wrexham as they exercised their Freedom of the City and County Borough — an honour that reflects the deep and lasting bond between the Royal Navy and our community. "With bayonets fixed, drums beating, and colours flying, the parade through our city centre was a stirring sight and a powerful reminder of the dedication and service of our armed forces. (Image: Newsquest) MORE NEWS: "As a member of Wrexham County Borough Council, I was honoured to stand alongside residents, veterans, and fellow councillors to show our gratitude and respect." He added: "Thank you to HMS Dragon for your service — and for bringing such pride to Wrexham today." In being named Freemen of Wrexham, the sailors are in select company, including Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
