Awful.
Five environmental consultants died in a twin-engine plane crash after takeoff in Arkansas. They were on their way to investigate the metal factory explosion in Ohio.
The plane was a twin propeller-engine Beech BE20.
The consultants worked for The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH). According to The Daily Mail, CTEH “specializes in environmental data collection and incident management – especially in terms of industrial hygiene and toxicology.”
An investigation has been ordered. The area had high winds and thunderstorms around the time of the crash. The wind had gusts up to 40mph.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said the preliminary report should arrive in two weeks.
Witnesses explained what they saw:
Witness Dennis Gordon told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he was standing nearby when he heard a large explosion after strong winds blew into the area. He said the initial explosion was followed by several other smaller explosions, leading to a fire and a large plume of smoke. ‘It was just red, then it starts turning black, and there’s this burnt smell,’ Gordon said. The witness added that a large amount of smoke filled the sky following the crash, with fire crews quickly on the scene to extinguish the fire.
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