Ten die when small plane crashes into airport hangar
Damage to the hangar at the Addison airport after the plane crashed into it, killing all on board. Photo: AAP
Ten people are dead after a small plane slammed into a hangar as it was taking off from a Dallas-area airport.
A local government official says no one aboard the twin-engine aircraft survived the crash at Addison Municipal Airport, about 32 kilometres north of Dallas, on Sunday.
The Beechcraft BE-350 King Air hit an unoccupied hangar soon after 9 am, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The agency said the ensuing blaze destroyed the plane but could not confirm how many people were aboard.
Video showed black smoke billowing from the building and a gaping hole in the hangar.
Officials have not released the identities of the people who died.
Spokeswoman Mary Rosenbleeth says the Dallas County medical examiner’s office confirmed the fatalities to the town and authorities were still working to notify the families of the victims.
The plane crashed during take-off and the resulting fire was quickly extinguished, said Edward Martelle, a spokesman for the town immediately north of Dallas.
Dallas County was helping the city of Addison set up a family assistance centre for people affected by the crash, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said.
“It’s a very sad day for Dallas County,” he told the Dallas Morning News.
“My prayers are with the families we’re notifying about this tragedy.”
Addison fire spokesman Edward Martelle said the plane was taking off at the south end of the airport and had just lifted off the runway when it veered left, dropped its left wing and went into the hangar.
The fire department had extinguished the fire and all hot spots at the hangar by early afternoon.
FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials were at the crash site Sunday evening.
Martelle said NTSB would lead the investigation and intended working into the night.
– AAP