A small plane crashed in suburban Pennsylvania shortly after takeoff on Sunday, leaving multiple people injured and several vehicles burnt to a crisp as it burst into flames on impact.
The plane carrying five passengers came down in Brethren Village, Manheim Township, just after it took off from nearby Lancaster Airport at 3:15 p.m. EDT, according to authorities.
Multiple people have been injured and Route 501 has been closed in the area, while horror footage shows the blazing wreckage in a parking lot.
The charred remains of multiple vehicles can be seen burning in the video with smoke pouring into the sky.
In the video, the tail of the plane — believed to be a Beechcraft A36TC — with the code N347M is seen in flames opposite a nearby nursing home.
Terrifying air traffic control audio captures the moment the pilot told ground agents they were being forced to turn around because the aircraft’s door had opened.
At one point, the pilot is heard saying he cannot hear the radio because of the wind noise caused by the unlocked hatch.
“Pull up… the aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area,” the desperate air traffic controller pleads.
The cause of the small plane crash is still under investigation and emergency services have been scrambled to the scene, according to Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro.204
“Our team at Pennsylvania State Police is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township,” Governor Shapiro wrote in a post on X.
“All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues and more information will be provided as it becomes available,” he went on.
