A plane crashed in the parking lot of a Pennsylvania retirement community on Sunday afternoon, injuring at least five people.
The crash happened at Brethren Village in Manheim, which is located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, at around 3 p.m. Five people were aboard the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza.
At a press conference on Sunday evening, Manheim Fire Chief Scott Little said that “multiple vehicles [caught] on fire due to the aircraft.”
“We are now transitioning to a recovery and an investigation phase, and we are awaiting additional information from our federal partners on next steps,” Little said.
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The crash happened at Brethren Village in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. (Joseph W. Smith Jr. via Facebook)
Duane Fisher, the Manheim police chief, said that at least a dozen vehicles were impacted by the crash, including five which were severely damaged.
A security official, who witnessed a fireball and saw black smoke emitting from the aircraft, confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital.
Lititz resident Joseph Smith told Fox News Digital that the aircraft took off from nearby Lancaster Airport before it quickly crashed.
“[It] immediately went down within 30 seconds after it took off,” the local said.
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The FAA is actively investigating the plane crash. (Joseph W. Smith Jr. via Facebook)
Smith, who witnessed the chaos in the parking lot from across the street, said that the area smelled strongly of fuel.
“The smell of [fuel] hung in the air as they worked to get it under control,” he described.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it was investigating the incident on Sunday.
“A Beechcraft Bonanza crashed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, around 3 p.m. local time on Sunday, March 9,” the statement read. “Five people were on board. The FAA will investigate.”
A plane carrying five people crashed in the parking lot of the Brethren Village retirement community near Lititz, Pennsylvania, on Mar. 9. (WPMT)
Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed on social media Sunday that he was aware of the incident, and said that Pennsylvania State Police officials were responding.
“Our team at @PAStatePolice is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township,” Shapiro’s post read. “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Five people were onboard the plane when it went down right after take off in Pennsylvania. (Joseph W. Smith Jr. via Facebook)
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Authorities are actively investigating the incident. Fox News Digital reached out to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Lancaster Airport and the Pennsylvania State Police for additional information.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Curto contributed to this report.
