5 environmental workers killed as twin-engine plane crashes in Arkansas' Clinton National Airport
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: Five environmental workers on board a twin-engine plane were killed in a crash near Clinton National Airport in Arkansas. The crash occurred near the 3M Plant in Little Rock at about 12.02 pm on Wednesday, February 22. According to reports, the twin-engine Beech BE20 was departing the airport to head toward John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio when the accident took place.
Several agencies responded to the incident, including Little Rock Police Department (LRPD), Little Rock Fire Department, and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, according to KARK. Lt. Cody Burk, a spokesperson for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, informed that no survivors had been found at the scene and that the search was in a recovery phase.
READ MORE
'I heard a big bang': Plane crashes into building killing all aboard as residents flee massive fire
#BREAKING PCSO is blocking off 3M Road following a plane crash. Emergency crews are on the scene. LRPD is reporting it is a twin engine plane. @KARK4News @FOX16News pic.twitter.com/WjzKsk9DiY
— Jessica Ranck (@JessicaRanckTV) February 22, 2023
PCSO Deputies were dispatched to 3M around Noon where a small aircraft has crashed. Multiple agencies are in the area to assist with the scene #PCSONEWS pic.twitter.com/Qy30aki6QN
— Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office (@SheriffPulaski) February 22, 2023
#BREAKING: Little Rock Police confirm emergency personnel responding to a plane crash, not far from the Clinton National Airport. Officers say plane is reportedly a twin-engine. #ARNews pic.twitter.com/5rE8iTRXAJ
— Mitchell McCoy (@MitchellMcCoy) February 22, 2023
What caused the plane crash near Clinton National Airport?
At present, there is not much information on what caused the crash. However, a report by THV11 suggests that the wind gusts were as high as 40 miles per hour at the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the crash to find out the cause. Meanwhile, James Bryant, a meteorologist for KATV, explained on Twitter that the plane crash occurred when a line of showers was moving quickly east, resulting in windy conditions, and wrote, "At the time of the crash (12:02 PM), Adams Field recorded a wind gust of 46 MPH."
The plane crash at the Little Rock airport occurred with a line of showers that were moving quickly east with strong winds out of the west northwest. At the time of the crash (12:02 PM), Adams Field recorded a wind gust of 46 MPH.
— James Bryant (@KATVJames) February 22, 2023
NTSB investigators will determine cause. #arwx pic.twitter.com/SYO2rMs4lu
Who were the victims?
CTEH, a science-based consulting firm that provides response services, including "environmental data collection, and management, GIS, safety, incident management, industrial hygiene, toxicology and human health consulting for the public and private sectors,” as per THV11, confirmed it had five employees, including the pilot of the plane. Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH, said, that the deceased were heading to investigate I. Schumann & Co's recent explosion in Bedford, Ohio, on February 20, reports Daily Mail. He said, “We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues. We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers.”