A small plane crashed into a parking lot at a retirement community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday afternoon. The incident left five people injured and damaged about a dozen cars.
The crash involved a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza. It occurred around 3:18 p.m. at Brethren Village in Manheim Township. All five people on board were taken to local hospitals, according to the fire chief, Scott Little.
Officials reported that around twelve vehicles were damaged, with five of them severely affected. Thankfully, the retirement community building remained unharmed, and no one on the ground was injured.
Eyewitness videos captured the plane wreckage engulfed in flames and rising smoke. Firefighters used extensive amounts of water to extinguish the blaze.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to investigate the crash. This incident follows a tragic midair collision earlier this year in which all seven people aboard a medical evacuation jet died in Philadelphia.
The pilot communicated with air traffic control about an open door just before the crash. The controller instructed the pilot to “pull up” moments prior to impact.
The plane was scheduled to leave from Lancaster Airport, located just north of the crash site, heading to Springfield, Ohio.
Pennsylvania State Police are assisting local responders while Governor Josh Shapiro has made resources available for the ongoing response efforts.
A witness reported that the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Brian Pipkin described how the plane started high but soon veered left before nose-diving into the parking lot.
Pipkin rushed to the scene, where he saw flames consuming the cockpit. He compared the intense heat to opening a very hot oven, expressing his anxiety about potential explosions as he approached.
This incident is being closely monitored by local authorities, and further information is expected to emerge as the investigation begins.
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