Wright Brothers Airport Plane Crash Leaves Multiple Fatalities

Multiple people have been reported dead following the crash of a single-engine plane at Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport in Manteo, NC, on Saturday afternoon.

According to the National Park Service and The New York Times, eyewitnesses reported that the plane was approaching the airport for a landing when it suddenly veered into a wooded area and crashed. After the collision, the aircraft caught fire, making rescue efforts all the more difficult. The Kill Devil Hills Fire Department, as well as several other local fire departments, responded to the scene and worked to contain the blaze.

Five people perished in the crash, with four adults and one child pronounced dead at the scene. It is unclear what their relationship was to one another, and their names have not been publicly released. It’s unknown from where their flight originated or what their ultimate destination was.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently conducting an investigation into what caused the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration has likewise been notified of the incident. The Wright Brothers Airport will remain closed until further notice, the NPS specified. On Sunday, the Wright Brothers National Memorial was also closed to visitors.

The Wright Brothers First Flight Airport stands on the ground where Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first powered flight in 1903. It was established as a public, single-runway airport in 1928 to honor the brothers’ accomplishment.