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5 environmental workers killed as twin-engine plane crashes in Arkansas' Clinton National Airport

The twin-engine Beech BE20 was departing the airport, to head toward John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio

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.

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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."

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.”