05 March 2024 , 09:24
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Several unanswered questions remain about the "catastrophic" plane crash that cost the lives of five people on Monday night.
The single-engine aircraft crashed near Interstate 40 in the western part of Nashville, Tennessee, at 8:30pm local time, killing all five people aboard. The pilot had issued distress calls to nearby John C. Tune Airport, citing emergency engine and power failure.
The pilot was given clearance for landing but later signalled that the place couldn't make the runway. Moments later, the aircraft plummeted behind a Costco store, instantly claiming the lives of the pilot and passengers.
The plane, identified as C-FBWH, had departed from Mount Sterling, Kentucky, at 7:19pm EST on Monday, and was flying for an hour and 24 minutes. Flight logs on flightaware.com show that it had flown into the US from Canada earlier in the day, making a stop at Erie International Airport in Pennsylvania.
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The plane collided near the Interstate 40 (SmartWay)Video footage captured by nearby traffic cameras documented the heart-stopping moment when the small plane streaked past the lenses, barely skimming above the interstate, before erupting into a fireball.
Metro police and fire departments responded to the scene, put the blaze out and cleared debris that was scattered at the crash site. Traffic on the Interstate 40 had to close on the eastbound lanes until early on Tuesday morning.
Eyewitnesses described the chilling sequence of events, recounting how the plane descended over the interstate from the north, veering across lanes before colliding with the grassy median.
As authorities investigate to bring answers to light, here are the details missing from the puzzle behind the devastating incident.
A large fireball erupted as the plane collided with the ground
Five people were killed in the tragedyWhat was the cause of the engine and power failure?
While the exact cause of the power loss and engine failure remains unclear as of yet, the Nashville Fire Department has said that the blaze erupting from the crash was contained soon enough, without compromising evidence pertinent to the investigation.
This leaves hope that any mechanical issues of the aircraft that led to the crash will emerge soon, as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into the circumstances under which the crash occurred.
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What are the identities of the victims?
The identities of the victims have not been revealed as of yet, although authorities have confirmed that all five people on board were killed, including the aircraft's pilot. The owner of the aircraft is also unknown, although it was officially registered back in July of 2023.
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Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell expressed condolences to the families of the victims and commended emergency responders for their swift action. He said: "Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of all those on board the single-engine aircraft that crashed near Interstate 40 this evening. I want to thank the Metro emergency responders who were on site quickly and extinguished the fire."
Metro Fire Department Public Information Officer Kendra Loney also said: "That impact was catastrophic and did not leave any survivors. We are saddened by the loss of souls that were on board, but we are proud of the work that everyone is doing to stabilize this incident and to make sure that there were no additional casualties."
Why couldn't the plane make it to John C. Tune Airport for the emergency landing?
The pilot requested emergency approval to land, indicating some level of interaction with air traffic control. It is still unknown why the plane was unable to make it to John C. Tune Airport for the emergency landing despite being approved for it. Right before the crash, the pilot told air traffic control that they wouldn’t make it to the tarmac.
During a media briefing, a local law enforcement official said the pilot's last words were "we're not going to make it." Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said that north tower workers informed the aircraft that it could land on runway two of the airport, but by then it was too late.
The pilot, about four minutes before crash landing on the highway, eerily told the aviation crew "we're not going to make it." Aaron said they were thankful the plane didn't hit any buildings, especially because the plane crashed just behind a local Costco.