Twin-engine airplane crashes in wooded area in Virginia, killing all 5 aboard

Tragedy struck in Virginia on Sunday afternoon after a private jet crashed in a wooded area of the state, killing all five people on board the twin-engine aircraft.

According to the Daily Mail, the plane, carrying five people, including a young child, "went down in a wooded area just outside of Ingalls Field Airport, 100 miles northwest of Lynchburg, Virginia."

Notably, the pilots indicated that it had an "onboard emergency" just prior to the plane crashing.

The small aircraft had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its intended destination was not Virginia, according to reports. Names of the victims were released.

A statement issued to the Associated Press by local officials said, "Small crash site, everything is burnt, meaning the tail numbers are unidentifiable," adding that the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were working to identify the craft.

The Mail noted:

Those killed included the pilot, a first officer, two adult passengers and a child aged between 5 and 7 years old. They have not been named.

Officials have not said if they believe that wind was a factor in the crash. The cause will be investigated by the Virginia State Police, the FAA and the NTSB.

The twin-engine IAI Astra 1125 reportedly crashed in a wooded area and caught fire, sparking a fire around it. The fire burned everything, making it impossible for authorities to obtain information such as the tail number and other identifying marks.

*BREAKING NEWS* 5 people yesterday died in a plane crash in rural Virginia. The cause of the crash is unknown as the investigation begins. pic.twitter.com/Qk59bNXyRL

— MorrisNews (@morrisnews12) March 12, 2024

In another recent crash, five died in a an incident that took place in Nashville.

"Victor Dotsenko, 43, his wife Rimma, 39, and their three children David, 12, Adam, 10, and Emma, 7, died on Monday next to Interstate-40 when their single-engine plane crashed and burst into a fireball."

Some details from the flight recorder were released, including haunting audio in which the pilot can be heard warning that he wouldn't make the runway after reporting that the plane's engine had "shut off" at an altitude of 1600 feet.

He reportedly said his family are "going to be landing... I don't know where. I'm too far away, I won't make it."

It was also noted that authorities are perplexed as to why the pilot overshot John C. Thune Airport just moments before he crashed.

He reportedly flew over the airport and then made a U-turn before ultimately crashing the aircraft.

The accident is still under investigation, though it will likely be months before a final report is issued.