In Lititz, Pennsylvania, a single-engine plane crash involving a family of five members led to serious injuries for three of them, necessitating their transfer to a specialized burn treatment center, as per official reports on Monday.
WGAL, a television station based in Lancaster, has identified the pilot as Matt White, who serves as an executive board member with the aviation firm Venture Jets. The four passengers who suffered injuries are also reported to be his family members. The plane involved in this unfortunate incident is noted to be White’s personal aircraft.
Remarkably, despite the fiery nature of the crash, no casualties were recorded, and there were no injuries reported on the ground, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection stated that a contractor is engaged in the cleanup of jet fuel, which had spilled into a stormwater basin as a result of the crash, though the surface water remained unaffected.
At present, federal investigators have yet to comment on the potential causes of the crash, and the details regarding the identities and current medical conditions of the victims have not been disclosed by either the authorities or health officials.
Following the crash, two injured parties were airlifted to the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s burn center, while a third was transported there via ambulance. This information was provided by a representative from Lancaster General Hospital, where the occupants received initial medical care post-crash. The remaining two passengers were discharged on Sunday night.
The ill-fated Beechcraft Bonanza plane erupted into flames after taking off from Lancaster Airport, leading to its complete destruction. The crash site was in the parking lot of the Brethren Village retirement community, situated around 75 miles west of Philadelphia. The incident prompted a brief shelter-in-place order for the local residents.
Registered to Jam Zoom Yayos LLC in nearby Manheim, the plane crashed just after 3 p.m., and was en route to Springfield, Ohio, according to FlightAware.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the accident, with collaboration from the FAA which has delegated an inspector to examine the site and collect essential documentation.
Investigators will examine various aspects pertaining to the pilot, the aircraft, and the contextual circumstances of the operation. This probe will extend to obtaining air traffic control recordings, flight data, witness accounts, surveillance footage, and maintenance records of the aircraft.
A preliminary report regarding the incident is anticipated to be released within 30 days, but the full investigation might span a duration of 12 to 24 months.
Eyewitness Brian Pipkin recounted the scene while driving, noting how the plane veered left and then rapidly descended nose-first, resulting in a “fireball” upon impact. Pipkin immediately contacted emergency services.
Air traffic control audio highlighted the pilot’s communication about an open aircraft door, requesting a return for landing. The controller initially cleared them to land but then urgently advised to “pull up.” Moments later, a voice reported the aircraft had crashed behind the terminal, near the parking lot area.