Native Information
The Beechcraft crashed in a area within the city of Litchfield at round 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration stated.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating the crash of a twin-engine cargo aircraft throughout a coaching train close to a small airport in central Maine, which killed each individuals on board.
The Beechcraft crashed in a area within the city of Litchfield at round 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration stated. The company stated the Nationwide Transportation Security Board would lead the investigation.
The aircraft crashed “underneath unknown circumstances” about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) from Wales Airport, stated Sarah Taylor Sulick, a spokesperson for the NTSB. Authorities had not recognized the 2 lifeless as of Wednesday.
The NTSB was simply starting its investigation on Wednesday, stated Ralph Hicks, a senior investigator with the company. The aircraft was configured for cargo, however it was getting used for flight coaching on the time of the crash, Hicks stated.
“The investigator will doc the accident website, airplane, and collect witness statements and any surveillance video that will have captured any a part of the accident flight,” Taylor Sulick stated.
Litchfield is a small city near the state capital of Augusta, and is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Portland, the biggest metropolis in Maine.
Wreckage from the crash will probably be recovered and moved offsite for evaluation, Taylor Sulick stated, including {that a} preliminary report concerning the crash will doubtless be obtainable in two to a few weeks.
The aircraft took off at 5:09 p.m. Tuesday from Auburn-Lewiston Airport, about 18 miles (29 kilometers) from Litchfield, Hicks stated. He stated there was no cargo on board on the time of the crash and it was undetermined whether or not the coed or the trainer was working the aircraft when it crashed.
The aircraft was operated by Wiggins Airways of Manchester, New Hampshire, Hicks stated.
Wiggins Airways’ web site states that the corporate is an all-cargo airline with operations in 12 states. It additionally states that the corporate “supplies time crucial feeder companies for main categorical carriers, specifically FedEx and UPS.”
Wiggins representatives stated in an announcement Wednesday that the corporate is complying with the investigation.
“We’re crammed with sorrow on the passing of our flight crew members,” stated Wiggins Airways President Donna Nixon. “The identities of the pilots is not going to be launched out of respect to their households and pals. Our focus is on supporting their households and our workers by this troublesome time.”
The first native investigating authority on the crash is the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Workplace, stated Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine State Police. Moss stated Maine State Police is helping with the investigation and declined to remark additional.
This scene could be very giant and it’ll take two to a few days to take care of it, stated Kennebec County Sheriff Ken Mason in a Fb submit.
“As we proceed our work on the incident in Litchfield, please be affected person with our response time for non-emergency requires service by out the county,” Mason stated. “Please maintain the households of the 2 souls misplaced in your ideas.”