A small plane crash-landed on an interstate in the United States (US) when it was unable to reach its destination airport.
It is understood that the single-engine Diamond DA-40 burst into flames on Interstate 26 near Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), North Carolina, after the pilot indicated that the aircraft was experiencing an oil leak.
In a recording shared by local news outlets, the pilot can be heard calling “mayday, mayday”.
The pilot is also heard to say: “Looks like, honestly, with our best glide we’re probably not going to make it, so if there’s anything else nearby you see that may get us some upflow, let us know,”.
Audio of the Diamond DA40 crash on I-26 in #Asheville, NC just a short while ago courtesy of https://t.co/18c89NX21b
— ☈ Chris Jackson ☈ (@ChrisJacksonSC) December 15, 2023
(Registration: N907L)
– To me it sounded like the pilot did absolutely everything he could do and was obviously experienced. He knew from the get go he probably… pic.twitter.com/Rf252MiWAO
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has confirmed that a plane crashed on I-26, resulting in a road closure between Airport Road and Long Shoals Road which is expected to be in place until December 15, 2023, at 11am local time.
According to the department, the plane crashed at around 8:30 pm on December 14, 2023.
Local media at the scene reported seeing damaged power lines in the area, suggesting that the aircraft may have hit them as it came in to land on the interstate.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said that there were two people on board the small plane at the time of the crash, both of whom were taken to hospital with injuries. There do not appear to have been any fatalities resulting from the incident.
Airport fire trucks were dispatched to assist at the scene, around four miles from the plane’s initial destination.
Following the crash, people in passing cars filmed the burning plane. Footage shot after the blaze shows the damaged aircraft as almost unrecognizable.
This video captured the fire after small plane crashed on I-26 in Asheville.
— Cody Alcorn (@CodyAlcorn) December 15, 2023
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(🎥E.J. Taylor) pic.twitter.com/B65Frc3doE
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed that it is aware of the incident and that an investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched.
