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Small plane crash in Texas Hill Country kills five

From The Guardian · (18m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A small plane crashed in the Texas Hill Country late Thursday night, killing all five people on board.
  • The crash occurred in a wooded area near Wimberley, approximately 40 miles southwest of Austin.
  • Authorities are withholding the victims' names until families are notified, while a second plane traveling with the crashed aircraft landed safely.

A tragic accident unfolded in the dark of night in Texas Hill Country, as a small plane carrying five individuals crashed, resulting in the loss of all lives aboard. The incident occurred late Thursday near Wimberley, a scenic area popular with tourists, about 40 miles southwest of the state capital, Austin. The Hays County Judge, Ruben Becerra, confirmed the fatalities via Facebook, stating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the crash of the Cessna 421C, which went down around 11:25 p.m. local time.

I just heard a loud crash. I felt everything vibrate. Everything was up in flames. It was crazy.

— Stacey RohrA nearby resident described the immediate aftermath of the plane crash.

Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the final moments. Nearby resident Stacey Rohr described hearing a loud crash and feeling vibrations, witnessing the aircraft engulfed in flames. Another local, Cecil Keith, reported hearing what sounded like engine backfiring just before the plane disappeared from view, noting that 'something was definitely wrong.' The aircraft had departed from Amarillo, in northwest Texas, roughly two hours prior to the crash, and was en route to New Braunfels National Airport, near Austin.

I heard what sounded like an engine backfiring – “pow, pow, pow” – when the plane flew over his house moments before the crash. Something was definitely wrong.

— Cecil KeithA local resident recounted hearing unusual engine noises immediately before the crash.

Adding a layer to the tragedy, a second aircraft was flying in the vicinity and landed safely. The pilot of this second plane, who was traveling with the deceased, communicated with air traffic control, expressing concern after the other aircraft began moving erratically and disappeared from radar. Distress signals were reportedly emitted by the troubled plane's locator emergency device. While the investigation into the exact cause is ongoing, preliminary weather reports indicate cloudy conditions shortly before the crash, with a thunderstorm occurring later. The names of the victims are being withheld pending family notification, a somber but necessary step in the aftermath of such a devastating event.

I haven’t heard anything from him.

— Pilot of second aircraftThe pilot of the second aircraft, flying with the crashed plane, expressed his lack of contact to air traffic control.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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