A business jet crashed and caught fire Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, leaving multiple people dead, authorities confirmed. The airport is frequently used by NASCAR teams and major Fortune 500 corporations.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell confirmed fatalities occurred but did not specify the number. The Cessna C550 crashed during its landing shortly after 10 a.m., striking the end of a runway approximately 45 miles north of Charlotte, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
John Ferguson, the airport director, told Millenium TV that the facility is now closed indefinitely. “It will take some time to remove the debris from the runway,” he explained.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA have launched an inquiry into the cause of the crash. Weather reports from the time indicate that there was drizzle and cloud cover present.
Video footage captured by local news showed emergency responders rushing to the scene as fire blazed near pieces of the wreckage scattered across the runway. The airport’s official website notes it provides corporate aviation services to high-profile clients, including NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies.
© Millenium TV
