A small plane crashed in a suburban Pennsylvania area on Sunday, causing multiple injuries and igniting several vehicles. The aircraft, which was carrying five passengers, went down in Brethren Village, Manheim Township, shortly after taking off from Lancaster Airport at 3:15 p.m. EDT, according to local authorities.
The aftermath of the crash was recorded on video, showing the fiery wreckage in a retirement community parking lot in the heart of Amish country. Several injuries were reported, and Route 501 nearby was temporarily closed. The video footage showed the charred remains of several vehicles and thick smoke rising into the sky.
The plane’s tail, thought to be a Beechcraft A36TC with the code N347M, was seen engulfed in flames in the video, near a nursing home. The audio from air traffic control recorded the pilot informing ground agents of the need to turn around because the aircraft’s door had opened mid-flight. The pilot also reported difficulty hearing the radio due to wind noise caused by the open hatch.
The air traffic controller can be heard urging the pilot to “pull up” as the aircraft descended behind the terminal into a parking lot. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, as confirmed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Governor Shapiro expressed his concern on social media and assured the public of the state’s response. He stated that the Pennsylvania State Police were on the ground assisting local first responders following the crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township. He further assured that all Commonwealth resources were available as the response continued and more information would be provided as it becomes available.