Five die in Los Angeles-area plane crash

Five die in Los Angeles-area plane crash

2011-03-17 02:26:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- Five people were killed on late Wednesday morning when a small plane crashed at Long Beach Airport, officials said. A sixth person was critically injured.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor said the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air crashed on departure at Long Beach Airport at around 10.30 a.m. local time. Footage from the scene showed the aircraft went off the runway before bursting into flames.

The Long Beach Fire Department said a total of six people were on board the aircraft, which can carry up to 15 people depending on its configuration. Five of them were found deceased, while one survivor was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

Gregor said the plane was heading to Salt Lake City and was owned by a corporation based in Los Angeles. He had no information about the identities of the victims.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the accident. It is the deadliest plane crash in the United States so far this year.

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