5 dead, 1 injured in Long Beach plane crash [Updated]
Five of six people aboard a small plane that crashed Wednesday near Long Beach Airport were confirmed dead, and one was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, authorities said.
A twin-engine Beechcraft King Air plane ignited in a ball of flames on departure from the airport around 10:30 a.m., said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The plane, which is owned by a Los Angeles-based corporation, was headed to Salt Lake City. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash.
Long Beach Fire Department spokesman Steve Yamamoto said six people were aboard the plane when it crashed and five were declared dead at the scene. The sixth person was taken to a hospital, suffering from unspecified injuries.
[Updated at 12:18 p.m.: "We are deeply saddened by this event," Airport Director Mario Rodriguez told reporters at the scene. "This is the last thing any airport director wants to see."
The twin-engine turbo prop plane had just taken off and was circling to return to the airport when it crashed just after 10:30 a.m.
Long Beach Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Reeb said firefighters arrived on scene to find the plane on fire and a fireball spewing from the wreckage. They found six occupants inside.
The airport has shut down two of five runways, but all commercial flights are scheduled to fly out normally.]
ALSO:
Radiation hot line open for concerned Californians
L.A. Councilwoman Jan Perry jumps into the 2013 mayor's race
-- Tony Barboza at Long Beach Airport and Andrew Blankstein
Photo: An official stands near the wreckage of a Beechcraft King Air plane that crashed on departure from Long Beach Airport on Wednesday. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
From Third District Councilman Gary DeLong: Those killed in the plane crash this morning at Long Beach Airport are Mark Bixby, Tom Dean, Jeff Berger... and Mike Jensen is in the hospital.
Posted by: Darcy Leigh Richardson | March 16, 2011 at 12:46 PM
From Third District Councilman Gary DeLong: Those killed in the plane crash this morning at Long Beach Airport are Mark Bixby, Tom Dean, Jeff Berger... and Mike Jensen is in the hospital.
Posted by: Darcy Leigh Richardson | March 16, 2011 at 01:05 PM
I knew one of the victims, Mark Bixby. He was a kind, loving, wonderful father, husband and friend, and I know he will be greatly missed.
Posted by: Mindy Lyons | March 16, 2011 at 06:48 PM