Several killed when small plane crashes into Florida trailer park, igniting massive blaze
Several people were killed when a small plane crashed into a Florida trailer park on Thursday night, setting fire to several homes, according to local fire officials.
The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 went down in the Bayside Waters mobile home park in Clearwater just south of the Clearwater Mall around 7:08 p.m., according to the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department.
The pilot of the plane reported engine failure before going down, the FAA said in a statement. The agency said it’s not clear how many people were on board.
The wreck resulted in “several fatalities, both from the aircraft and within the mobile home,” according to Clearwater Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Ehlers.
Video released by the fire and rescue department showed the apocalyptic-looking scene, with the plane wreckage still smoldering next to charred buildings and trees.
Another video posted on social media shows massive flames engulfing a home from a distance.
The plane crashed into one of the mobile homes and caught fire, Fire Chief Scott Ehlers told reporters, and three others were impacted.
The fires were quickly extinguished, he said.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
