Four Killed When Plane Headed to North Carolina's Outer Banks Crashes, Officials Say

Sep. 2—Four people were killed when an airplane headed toward North Carolina's Outer Banks crashed into a Connecticut building Thursday morning, officials say.

The Cessna Citation 560X business jet crashed into the building in Farmington around 10 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Lt. Tim McKenzie with the Farmington Police Department said in a video streamed by WTIC that two pilots and two passengers on board the plane were killed.

The plane had left from Robertson Field Airport in Plainville, Connecticut, and was headed to Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, North Carolina, the FAA said.

Local outlets report the plane crashed into the Trumpf Inc. building on Hyde Road shortly after taking off. Trumpf Inc. is a machine and technology manufacturing company, according to its website. The building is about a mile away from the airport.

McKenzie said earlier Thursday in a video streamed by NBC Connecticut that the plane and part of the building were engulfed in flames for at least 20 to 30 minutes after the crash.

He said witnesses told police they saw the plane having trouble before it hit the ground then struck the building and that it appeared there was a mechanical failure with the plane during takeover, leading to the crash.

McKenzie said Thursday afternoon that everyone in the building is accounted for and that no one was injured.

The Federal Aviation Administration did not comment on what led to the crash. It said it will investigate the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

Police have asked everyone to avoid to area so emergency crews can evacuate it.

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