A small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in a suburban area of Pennsylvania on Sunday, resulting in multiple injuries and setting several vehicles ablaze. The plane, carrying five passengers, went down in Brethren Village, Manheim Township, moments after departing from Lancaster Airport at 3:15 p.m. EDT, as reported by local authorities.
The shocking aftermath of the crash was captured on video, showing the fiery wreckage in a parking lot of a retirement community in the heart of Amish country. Several injuries have been reported, and Route 501 in the vicinity has been temporarily closed. The video footage reveals the charred remains of several vehicles, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.
The tail of the plane, believed to be a Beechcraft A36TC with the code N347M, can be seen engulfed in flames in the video, located near a nursing home. The chilling audio from air traffic control captures the pilot informing ground agents of the need to turn around due to the aircraft’s door opening mid-flight. The pilot also reported difficulty hearing the radio due to wind noise caused by the open hatch.
The air traffic controller can be heard urging the pilot to “pull up” as the aircraft descended behind the terminal into a parking lot. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with emergency services promptly dispatched to the scene, as confirmed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Governor Shapiro took to social media to express his concern and assure the public of the state’s response. He wrote, “Our team at Pennsylvania State Police is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township.” He further assured that “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues and more information will be provided as it becomes available.”