Tragic news.
Multiple people have died folllowing a rare, mid-air crash between two planes at a California airport, officials have said.
The incident on Thursday afternoon happened at the Watsonville Municipal Airport in Watsonville, a town home to just over 50,000 people around 50 miles south of San Jose.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following news of the crash, but multiple fatalities have been reported.
In the aftermath of the collision, the City of Watsonville Twitter account posted a statement saying: “We are absolutely saddened to hear about the tragic incident that took the lives of several people.
“The City of Watsonville sends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who passed.”
Reacting to the tragic news, City of Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker added: “We are grieving tonight from this unexpected and sudden loss.
“I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences.”
“We are grieving tonight from this unexpected and sudden loss,” said City of Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker. “I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences.”
The NTSB & the FAA will be investigating today’s plane crash.
— City of Watsonville (@WatsonvilleCity) August 19, 2022
The City of Watsonville account also said that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the plane crash.
The FAA said a single-engine Cessna 152 and a twin-engine Cessna 340 collided while their respective pilots were on their final approaches into the airport.
It also stated that one person was onboard the Cessna 152 and two were in the Cessna 340 but did not confirm if all three of the people on board the planes had died in the crash.
No one on the ground at the site of the crash reported any injuries.
Multiple agencies responded to Watsonville Municipal Airport after 2 planes attempting to land collided. We have reports of multiple fatalities.
Report came in at 2:56pm.
Investigation is underway, updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/pltHIAyw5p
— City of Watsonville (@WatsonvilleCity) August 18, 2022
Main image via Twitter/WatsonvilleCity
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