A small jet crashed into a car just after take off just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, leaving five people dead.
The fatal incident occurred around 4:40 pm on Tuesday as a Honda HA-420 jet collided with a vehicle just outside of the Falcon Field Airport in Mesa.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft ‘impacted the airport perimeter fence’ before skidding into a car ‘during an aborted takeoff’, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.
Five passengers were aboard the plane, though it is unclear if they were among those that died.
It is also unclear how many people were in the car at the time of the crash. Their identities have not been released.
The fatal incident occurred around 4.40pm Tuesday as a Honda HA-420 jet ‘impacted the airport perimeter fence’ before skidding into a car ‘during an aborted takeoff.’ (Pictured: Stock image of Honda HA-420)
Terrifying video and images showed a large plume of smoke coming from the scene as orange flames billowed.
A slew of emergency vehicles were present at the scene as well.
As of Wednesday morning, Greenfield Road – where the fiery collision took place – remains closed in both directions from McKellips to McDowell Road, the Mesa Police Department said on X.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
DailyMail.com contacted the Mesa Police Department and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
A preliminary report of the incident will be released in 30 days and a final report is expected in one to two years, the NTSB said.
The twin-engine Beechcraft 95 departed the airport with five passengers and later crashed just off the coast of LA County around 8 pm, leaving every person on board dead at the scene.
The aircraft was reportedly not cleared for takeoff by the island’s airport.
The victim’s identities have since been revealed as 73-year-old, Ali Reza Safai of West Hills, Haris Ali, 33, of Fullerton, Margaret Mary Fenner, 55, and famed artist manager Gonzalo Lubel, 34, and Joeun Park, 37.
Safai, a previous flight instructor at Santa Monica Aviation, was the registered owner of the plane, according to the FAA.
Flight records show that the plane took off around 5:45 pm that day and according to the National Weather Service there were no thick fog advisories at the time.
The Avalon Sheriff Station was notified of a 911 S.O.S. emergency from a cellular device around 8:08 pm on October 8 after the plane crashed.
The agency said a probable cause of the crash will be released in one to two years.
