A serene Sunday afternoon in Bath County, Virginia, was shattered when a twin-engine IAI Astra 1125 plummeted into the woods near Ingalls Field Airport, claiming the lives of five individuals, including one child.
This information was obtained from a statement provided to NBC News by the Virginia State Police where they said,
“At this time, it appears there were four adults and one juvenile onboard the aircraft. All five, which includes the pilot, died at the scene.”
The aircraft had embarked from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and met its tragic end around 3 p.m. local time, igniting upon impact.
The Bath County Sheriff’s Office said that they received a distressing call at 2:58 p.m., and first responders, including the Sheriff’s Department, Virginia State Police, and Hot Springs Fire and Rescue, rushed to the scene. The crash site, engulfed in flames, presented a harrowing tableau for the emergency teams as they navigated the wooded area to reach the wreckage.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are spearheading an exhaustive investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash.
Preliminary reports have not disclosed the identities of the victims or the flight’s intended destination.