Five killed in US plane crash shortly after take-off

Five people travelling in a small plane from Little Rock, Arkansas were killed when the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, officials said.

All five people onboard were employees of CTEH, a consultancy firm, and were reportedly traveling to Ohio to assess an explosion at a metal factory that killed one person.

The group took off in a twin-engine Beech BE20 from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) at around midday on February 22, 2023.

Emergency services rushed to the crash site, just a few miles from the airport, where officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office investigated, alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.

“We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues,” said Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH. “We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers.”

There have been reports indicating that weather conditions in the area at the time were windy with gusts of 40 mph (64 kph).

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn five lives lost in today’s airplane crash off 3M Road. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash, said mayor of Little Rock, Frank Scott Jr. “Please keep local company CTEH and the families of the victims in your prayers.”