10 March, Lancaster County, PA:
A small plane crashed into the parking lot of a retirement community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday afternoon, injuring all five people aboard and damaging nearly a dozen vehicles, according to local authorities.
The aircraft, a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, went down at approximately 3:18 p.m. ET on the premises of Brethren Village retirement community in Manheim Township. According to Scott Little, Chief of Manheim Township Fire, emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and transported all five individuals on board to local hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately disclosed.
Officials confirmed that around a dozen vehicles sustained damage in the crash, with five suffering severe destruction. However, no structural damage occurred to the retirement community buildings, and no one on the ground was injured.
A footage captured the wreckage engulfed in flames, sending thick black smoke into the sky. Fire crews worked diligently to extinguish the blaze, using what Little described as “copious amounts of water” to bring it under control.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the crash. The FAA confirmed that the plane was scheduled to depart from Lancaster Airport, just north of the crash site, and was en route to Springfield, Ohio. Investigators will review documentation and conduct an initial examination of the crash site to determine the cause of the accident.
Preliminary reports indicate that the pilot radioed an air traffic controller about an open door issue before the crash. In response, the controller advised the pilot to “pull up,” but moments later, the plane lost control and went down.
Witnesses described a horrifying scene as the aircraft descended sharply. Brian Pipkin, who saw the crash unfold, recounted how the plane initially climbed before veering left and then nose-diving sideways while still turning. He rushed to the crash site, where he saw the cockpit engulfed in flames and felt intense heat.
“It felt like opening an oven set to 500 degrees,” Pipkin said. “I was getting closer, praying to God that nothing would blow up.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on social media that state police were assisting local first responders at the scene. He assured that all available Commonwealth resources were deployed as the response and investigation continued.
The incident follows a series of aviation accidents across the country, including a fatal medical evacuation jet crash in Philadelphia on January 31, which claimed seven lives. Authorities will continue their investigation to determine the cause of the latest crash and assess safety measures moving forward.
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