Plane crashes near Van Nuys airport during takeoff
Daily News and wire services
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:01/12/2007 11:52:41 AM PST
VAN NUYS - A small plane crashed this morning near Van Nuys Airport and burst into flames, authorities said.
The crash of the twin-engine Cessna Citation occurred about 11 a.m. in the 8500 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue just after the plane took off from the airport. Witnesses said it looked like it was having obvious mechanical problems.
"It would be a miracle if anyone survived that," eyewitness Ron Keene told ABC Channel 7 news. "There was an obvious problem with the aircraft."
There was no immediate word on injuries or casualties, or how many people were aboard the plane. But one witness said he saw someone jump out of the plane just before it crashed.
"We looked up and we just saw him jump right out of the plane," said Luke Malbry, who watched the wreck from a friend's garage. "It nose-dived right into the ground and there was a huge ball of fire right after it happened. He landed right next to it. He knew it was going to happen."
Those on board the plane said they had some kind of emergency and were trying to return to the airport, Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, told ABC Channel 7 news.
Firefighters sprayed foam as the aircraft burned next to a road in a lot about three-quarters of a mile north of the airport. The blaze was quickly put out.
The aircraft was flying to Long Beach, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles.
Van Nuys is the busiest general aviation airport in the nation, with an average of nearly 500,000 takeoffs and landings annually. The 730-acre facility is owned by the city's Los Angeles World Airports department and is used by private, corporate, charter, flight instruction and maintenance operations.
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:01/12/2007 11:52:41 AM PST
VAN NUYS - A small plane crashed this morning near Van Nuys Airport and burst into flames, authorities said.
The crash of the twin-engine Cessna Citation occurred about 11 a.m. in the 8500 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue just after the plane took off from the airport. Witnesses said it looked like it was having obvious mechanical problems.
"It would be a miracle if anyone survived that," eyewitness Ron Keene told ABC Channel 7 news. "There was an obvious problem with the aircraft."
There was no immediate word on injuries or casualties, or how many people were aboard the plane. But one witness said he saw someone jump out of the plane just before it crashed.
"We looked up and we just saw him jump right out of the plane," said Luke Malbry, who watched the wreck from a friend's garage. "It nose-dived right into the ground and there was a huge ball of fire right after it happened. He landed right next to it. He knew it was going to happen."
Those on board the plane said they had some kind of emergency and were trying to return to the airport, Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, told ABC Channel 7 news.
Firefighters sprayed foam as the aircraft burned next to a road in a lot about three-quarters of a mile north of the airport. The blaze was quickly put out.
The aircraft was flying to Long Beach, about 25 miles south of Los Angeles.
Van Nuys is the busiest general aviation airport in the nation, with an average of nearly 500,000 takeoffs and landings annually. The 730-acre facility is owned by the city's Los Angeles World Airports department and is used by private, corporate, charter, flight instruction and maintenance operations.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 1/12/2007 11:55:00 AM
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