A number of individuals had been killed after a small aircraft crashed right into a trailer park on Thursday in Florida, setting hearth to a number of houses, in response to the BBC. The one-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 went down within the Bayside Waters cellular residence park in Clearwater simply south of the Clearwater Mall. Air visitors management heard the pilot declare a mayday earlier than disappearing. It’s unclear how many individuals had been on board, however the crash resulted in “a number of fatalities, each from the plane and inside the cellular residence,” as per Clearwater Fireplace and Rescue Division.
A video of the crash web site was shared on X by the hearth division. It exhibits wreckage strewn into the road. “We’re on scene of a small aircraft crash at a cellular residence park south of Clearwater Mall. A number of cellular houses have caught hearth. Firefighters from a number of jurisdictions are on scene,” the caption of the publish learn.
We’re on scene of a small aircraft crash at a cellular residence park south of Clearwater Mall. A number of cellular houses have caught hearth. Firefighters from a number of jurisdictions are on scene. pic.twitter.com/1vBLnTnY8R
— Clearwater Fireplace & Rescue Division (@clearwaterfire) February 2, 2024
Chatting with reporters, Clearwater Fireplace Chief Scott Ehlers mentioned 4 trailers had been “closely concerned”, and one was struck by the small aircraft. The fires had been “shortly extinguished,” he mentioned.
Additional, as per the hearth chief, 3 of the houses have been searched and located to comprise no victims. Residents had been inside when the aircraft crashed however had been capable of flee to security, Mr Ehlers added.
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Investigators are nonetheless working to method the trailer that was immediately hit by the aircraft. The pilot is believed to have died, officers mentioned.
Individually, in an announcement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mentioned that the aircraft was a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 that had reported an “engine failure” shortly earlier than the crash. “It’s not but recognized how many individuals had been on board,” the assertion added.
The crash might be investigated by the FAA and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB).