No survivors after plane heading to Ohio for plant fire crashes in Arkansas
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — There were no survivors after a plane carrying five people coming to Ohio to assist with a metals plant explosion crashed on its way to Columbus, authorities say.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a twin-engine Beech BE20 crashed after departing Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, around noon.
The plane, with five people aboard, was heading to John Glenn International in Columbus, Ohio.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office told reporters at a news conference that there were no survivors.
CTEH, a science-based consulting firm, owns the plane and said all on board were employees.
The company said they were heading to Oakwood Village in Ohio to assist with the aftermath of a deadly fire at the I. Schumann & Co. copper alloy company.
An explosion at the metals plant on Monday killed a maintenance worker and injured more than a dozen people. Fire officials said the explosion likely happened in the building’s foundry, where molten metals are held in kettles.
“We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues,” said Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH. “We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers.”
According to the Little Rock Fire Department, the plane crashed near the backside of the 3M Plant on Walters Road, just south of Interstate 440.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
