In brief
A Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, located 45 miles north of Charlotte, NC. Authorities confirmed fatalities but did not disclose the exact number. The airport is closed while investigations continue.
STATESVILLE, N.C. — A tragic incident unfolded Thursday as a business jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, resulting in multiple fatalities, according to authorities. The Cessna C550, used primarily for corporate aviation and frequented by NASCAR teams, crashed during its landing around 10 a.m. at the airport situated roughly 45 miles north of Charlotte.Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell confirmed the fatalities but refrained from providing specific numbers. The crash ignited a significant fire near the wreckage, prompting swift responses from first responders, as documented in footage from WSOC-TV.According to airport director John Ferguson, the crash occurred at the end of the runway, leading to the closure of the airport until further notice. It will take some time to get the debris off the runway, Ferguson stated to reporters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation into the incident, with weather conditions at the time reported to include drizzle and clouds, as noted by AccuWeather.The airport is known for catering to Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, making this incident particularly shocking for the local community and in aviation circles.
