A small plane crash into the parking lot of a retirement community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday afternoon, injuring all five people aboard and damaging about a dozen vehicles, according to local authorities.
The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza, went down around 3:18 p.m. ET at the Brethren Village retirement community in Manheim Township, said Scott Little, the chief of Manheim Township Fire, during a Sunday evening press conference.
Emergency crews responded quickly, and the five individuals onboard were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed.
BREAKING: Plane crashes in Manheim Township, Pennsylvaniapic.twitter.com/Gz3xB4Yidi
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Officials confirmed that roughly twelve cars sustained damage from the crash, with five of them severely impacted. Fortunately, there was no structural damage to the retirement community, and no one on the ground was injured.
Eyewitness footage from the scene depicted the aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of black smoke rising into the air. Firefighters used a significant amount of water to extinguish the fire, according to Chief Little.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the crash. This incident follows a series of aviation accidents in recent months, including a fatal medical evacuation jet crash in Philadelphia on January 31 that claimed the lives of six passengers and one person on the ground.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also conduct an independent investigation, evaluating evidence collected by FAA officials at the crash site.
Preliminary reports indicate that the pilot may have been experiencing mechanical issues before the crash. According to air traffic control recordings, the pilot reported an open door on the aircraft. Moments before impact, an air traffic controller instructed the pilot to “pull up.”
The ill-fated flight had departed from Lancaster Airport, which is located just north of the crash site, and was en route to Springfield, Ohio, according to data from FlightAware.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Pennsylvania State Police were assisting local emergency responders at the scene. He assured residents that “all Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues.”
Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the crash. Brian Pipkin, a local resident, told CNN that he saw the plane veer left before suddenly nose-diving into the parking lot.
“It was pretty high, but then it started veering left, and suddenly it nose-dived sideways while continuing to turn left,” Pipkin recalled.
After witnessing the impact, Pipkin rushed to the crash site, where he saw flames consuming the cockpit.
“The heat was overwhelming,” he said. “It felt like opening an oven set to 500 degrees and having the heat blast you in the face.”
Despite the intensity of the fire, Pipkin approached cautiously, fearing a possible explosion. “I was praying to God that nothing would blow up,” he added.
As investigators work to determine the exact cause of the crash, the Lancaster County community is grappling with the shock of the incident. More details are expected to emerge as officials continue their inquiries into what led to the plane’s sudden and tragic descent.
This remains a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.