At least six people have lost their lives after a small private aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, sources told CNN.
According to Iredell County Deputy Chief Bill Hamby, the crash occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. local time. Preliminary information indicates that the victims included the pilot and five passengers. A federal source told CNN that one of the individuals on board was reportedly connected to NASCAR.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the aircraft was a Cessna C550, which crashed during an attempted landing around 4:20 p.m. local time. The investigation will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will lead the inquiry and provide further updates.
A witness who works at the airport told CNN that she saw the aircraft engulfed in flames following the crash.
“My desk faces the area where it happened. I was sitting when I heard a loud explosion and felt the hangar shake slightly. I stood up to look and saw flames everywhere,” said Victoria, who asked to be identified by her first name only for privacy reasons.
During a brief press conference, local authorities provided limited details about the cause of the accident. Airport manager John Ferguson stated that there is currently no information regarding the cause of the crash.
