Aspen Plane Crash: Private Plane Crashes Then Bursts Into Flames

At Aspen Airport, just 100 miles southeast of Denver, a private plane crashed while attempting to land at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses said that it appeared the pilot...
Aspen Plane Crash: Private Plane Crashes Then Bursts Into Flames
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  • At Aspen Airport, just 100 miles southeast of Denver, a private plane crashed while attempting to land at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport on Sunday afternoon.

    Witnesses said that it appeared the pilot missed the runway in his first attempt to land, and circled a few times before the plane crashed, Flight Aware reported.

    The aircraft bound for the Rockies started its journey in Mexico, making a stop in Tuscon, Arizona just before heading to the Aspen Airport, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

    There were three people aboard and one person was killed, two were injured and were immediately rushed to Aspen Valley Hospital, according to ABC News.

    Transcripts from the voice recorder revealed there was no mayday issued by the pilots, however, there was concern over strong wind gusts in the area.

    The private jet was on its second landing attempt when it crashed, bursting into flames and sending black smoke billowing into the air.

    Emergency crews responded immediately to the crash, the Sheriff’s Office said.

    “We did receive 2 victims here. They came by ambulance to our hospital,” Ginny Dyche, director of community relations for the hospital, told the Daily News. “They are still being evaluated.”

    Witnesses included the “Saturday Night Live” former cast member, Kevin Nealon, along with country singer LeAnn Rimes, who tweeted their shock and concern just as the plane crashed and was consumed in flames.

    “Horrible plane crash here at Aspen airport,” Nealon tweeted. “Exploded into flames as it was landing. I think it was a private jet.”

    Nealon said that a fire truck and ambulances arrived on scene in a matter of minutes. The crash looked so devastating that he did not think there were any survivors at first.

    Rimes tweeted, “So sad! Horrible plane crash we just saw happen at the Aspen airport.”

    Allan Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, told ABC News that the plane appeared to be a Bombardier Challenger 600.

    The airport closed after the incident.

    Image via YouTube

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