Daijiworld Media Network – Denver
Denver, Sep 5: Two people were killed when a small plane crashed and caught fire near Centennial Airport in suburban Denver on Friday, authorities confirmed.
According to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deborah Takahara, the crash occurred just south of the airport and was first reported as an explosion. The Beech BE35 aircraft went down in the parking lot of an industrial office park and was quickly engulfed in flames, threatening nearby buildings and diesel-powered generators. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control before it spread.
Air traffic recordings captured another pilot reporting the incident in real time. “Tower, there’s smoke off the left side. Looks like he went down,” the pilot said, seconds later adding: “He appears to have crashed in the parking lot about a mile southeast of the field.”
Officials are investigating the cause of the crash.