A heart-wrenching tragedy took place Monday night after a small plane crashed into the shoulder of Interstate 40 in Nashville, Tennessee, causing an explosion and deadly fire that claimed the lives of all five people on board. In response, authorities swiftly moved to close the highway partially, initiating a thorough investigation into the crash.
The plane had asked for permission to make an emergency landing at the nearby John C Tune Airport after it reported engine and power difficulties at 7:40 pm, said Don Aaron, speaking for the Metro Nashville Police Department. But within seconds, it told air traffic controllers: ‘We won’t make the runway.’
The plane was fully engulfed in flames after it crashed almost 20 metres from where it had landed Its fuselage sheared off, the engines toasted, the wing and tail section toasted – there were just no survivors, explained Kendra Loney, public information officer for the Nashville Fire Department.
As these investigations occur, officials have not released the identity of the victims, and they are still attempting to ascertain the aircraft’s origin.
Eyewitnesses reported that the plane visibly struggled as it approached I-40 for a landing and then crashed in the grassy area behind a Costco along I-40 East—thankfully, without causing any structural damage to nearby buildings.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate the root cause. We might soon know the details of the events that led up to the crash.
After the crash, authorities shut down I-40 East at mile marker 202, slowing traffic and causing gridlock. They later reopened lanes to alleviate congestion but then had to shut down the road again, advising that commuters should expect morning rush-hour backups on Tuesday.
Video taken by witnesses and shared by emergency traffic officials showed a burning crash scene and rescue personnel standing along the roadway. Remote automated traffic cameras also recorded the widespread emergency response and traffic backup that resulted from the crash.
As investigations are ongoing and the tragedy is being digested by the wider community, visitors are encouraged to seek alternative routes and exercise caution in the affected area. Authorities remain committed to unveiling the sequence of events leading to the tragic crash.
Source: Joe Sutton and Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN March 5, 2024
