‘Multiple people dead’ after plane explodes in fireball after crash

Several people are thought to have died after a private jet crashed on the tarmac of Statesville Regional Airport.

A plane carrying an unknown number of people went up in a fireball at the North Carolina airport in the US today at around 10.15 local time (3.15pm GMT).

Footage shows thick black smoke billowing into the air, visible for miles, after the aircraft exploded on the tarmac.

It was reportedly a Cessna C550 plane often used as a private and corporate jet, capable of carrying up to eight passengers.

Iredell County’s sheriff has reportedly confirmed multiple deaths, although it is not yet known how many people were on the aircraft.

The US aviation watchdog, the Federal Aviation Authority, told the Daily Mail that Cessna plane crashed while attempting to land.

Statesville Regional Airport said: ‘We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport.

‘At approximately 10:15am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.’

Statesville Airport is located around 40 miles north of the state capital, Charlotte, and near Interstate 40 motorway. The area is also home to several NASCAR tracks and racing teams.

The weather in the Statesville area at the time of the crash was rainy with wind gusts of just over 4mph, but it is not known if the weather conditions played a role in the accident.

The aviation industry has been rocked by several fatal incidents this year involving both light aircraft and large commercial planes.

On Monday, ten people were killed after a private jet crashed while trying to make an emergency landing in San Mateo Atenco outside Mexico City in central Mexico.

Two people on board a small plane died when the aircraft collided near a suburban airport in Denver in September.

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