A fatal plane crash occurred in Fairview, Oregon, near Portland International Airport and Troutdale Airport, on a Saturday morning. The incident involved a twin-engine Cessna 421C aircraft that crashed into a row of townhouses, resulting in the death of the two individuals aboard the plane and one resident of the townhouse that was directly hit.
Scott Lewis, Gresham Fire Chief, had previously reported that one person from the affected townhouse was unaccounted for. As a safety measure, residents of the adjacent townhouses were evacuated.
John Plock, Public Information Officer for the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, detailed that the aircraft initially collided with a power pole. This impact caused parts of the plane to break apart and scatter around the crash site before the plane ultimately crashed into the roof of a townhouse.
Social media platforms were inundated with videos showing a fire and a large plume of smoke rising above the tree line in Fairview. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash took place around 10:30 a.m.
Gresham Fire, with the support of other agencies including The Port of Portland, Portland Fire and Rescue, and Clackamas Fire, responded to the incident. The crash site was closer to the smaller Troutdale Airport, which is known for its flight training and recreational services.
The crash also resulted in a power outage in the area, leaving thousands of residents without electricity. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are set to investigate the incident.