A small plane has crashed into a retirement home car park in the US where it burst into flame.
The single-engine aircraft, which had just taken off from Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, at around 3pm on Sunday, was carrying five people who were hurt, but all survived.
They were taken to nearby hospital. It’s not clear what injuries they suffered, and whether their conditions are life-threatening.
Police said nobody on the ground was hurt.
According to air traffic control audio, the pilot of the plane reported that a door of the aircraft was ‘open’ and they would need to return to the airport.
Witness Brian Pipkin was driving nearby when he spotted the small plane climbing before suddenly veering to the left.
‘And then it went down nose first,’ he said. ‘There was an immediate fireball.’
After calling 911, Mr Pipkin drove to the crash site and filmed the wreckage.
Smoke can be seen billowing from the mangled plane in the car park of Brethren Village retirement community, while a number of cars were also reportedly on fire.
Mr Pipkin said the plane narrowly missed hitting a three-story building.
A fire engine from the airport arrived within minutes, and more first responders followed quickly.
‘It was so smoky and it was so hot,’ Mr Pipkin added. ‘They were really struggling to get the fire out.’
Brethren Village residents were briefly asked to shelter in place as a precaution, police chief Duane Fisher said.
‘I don’t know if I’d consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing,’ he added.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there were five people aboard the Beechcraft Bonanza. Its planned flight and destination had not been released soon after the crash.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting that the aircraft ‘has an open door, we need to return for a landing.’
An air traffic controller is heard clearing the plane to land, before saying, ‘Pull up!’
Moments later, someone can be heard saying the aircraft was “down just behind the terminal in the parking lot street area.’
The FAA said it will investigate.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said state police were assisting local authorities. ‘All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available,’ Mr Shapiro said on social media.
The crash comes about a month after seven people were killed when an air ambulance burst into flames after crashing onto a busy Philadelphia street.
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