The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
In Pennsylvania, USA, a small aircraft carrying five individuals crashed and caught fire on Saturday in the parking lot of a retirement village close to a small airport in suburban Pennsylvania. According to officials and eyewitnesses, all individuals on board survived the crash.
The incident took place at approximately 3 p.m. just south of Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township, as stated by police Chief Duane Fisher during an evening press conference. The five passengers were transported to hospitals in undisclosed conditions, while Chief Fisher confirmed that no individuals on the ground sustained injuries.
Brian Pipkin was driving nearby when he noticed the small plane climbing before it suddenly veered to the left.
“And then it went down nose first,” he told The Associated Press. “There was an immediate fireball.”
After contacting emergency services, Pipkin proceeded to the crash scene, where he filmed footage of dark smoke rising from the wreckage of the plane and several cars on fire in a parking lot at Brethren Village. Pipkin mentioned that the aircraft narrowly avoided colliding with a three-story building at the expansive retirement village situated around 75 miles (120 km) west of Philadelphia.
A fire truck from the airport arrived within minutes, and more first responders followed quickly.
“It was so smoky and it was so hot,” Pipkin said. “They were really struggling to get the fire out.” A dozen parked cars were damaged, Fisher said.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there were five people aboard the Beechcraft Bonanza.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting that the aircraft “has an open door, we need to return for a landing.” An air traffic controller is heard clearing the plane to land, before saying, “Pull up!” Moments later, someone can be heard saying the aircraft was “down just behind the terminal in the parking lot street area.”
The FAA said it will investigate.
The crash comes about a month after seven people were killed when an air ambulance burst into flames after crashing onto a busy Philadelphia street.
