At least three people have died after a small plane crashed into a Florida mobile home park on Thursday evening.
The FAA confirmed that the pilot and at least two people on the ground lost their lives in the crash.
As emergency officials continue their investigation, that number could increase.
The pilot reported an engine failure before the single-engine plane crashed into a mobile home, sending debris flying and setting fire to at least three other properties.
The plane disappeared from radar and the pilot reportedly radioed a “mayday” before the crash.
At least three people have died after a small plane crashed into a Florida mobile home park on Thursday evening
The FAA confirmed that the pilot and at least two people on the ground lost their lives in the crash
First responders found four trailer homes burning, one of which contained the crashed plane, city Fire Chief Scott Ehlers (pictured) said at a news conference Thursday evening
At around 7:15 p.m. local time, firefighters were called to the burning crash site at Bayside Waters mobile home park, about 23 miles west of Tampa.
First responders found four trailer homes burning, one of which contained the crashed plane, the city's fire chief, Scott Ehlers, said at a news conference Thursday evening.
“I can confirm that we have multiple fatalities both from the aircraft and inside the RV,” Ehlers said, but was unable to provide an exact number of casualties that evening.
It is not yet clear how many people were on board the Beechcraft Bonanza V35 single-engine aircraft itself.
Witnesses reported a large explosion before smoke and flames engulfed the area.
“We heard a racing engine,” Janet Barclay told The New York Times, “then an explosion.”
Firefighters are responding to the fire after a small plane crashed Thursday evening
The pilot and two people on the ground were killed when the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza V35 crashed into the Bayside Waters RV park around 7 p.m
A house burns in flames after a small plane crashed on Thursday evening
An aerial drone shows the scene of Thursday's plane crash in Clearwater, Florida, on Friday
Authorities are trying to determine how many people died when a small plane crashed into a Florida mobile home park
Investigators are examining the burned-out remains of a mobile home after a plane crash on Thursday
Firefighters destroy hotspots after a small plane crashed into a mobile home on Thursday
We are at the scene of a small plane accident in a mobile home park south of Clearwater Mall. Several mobile homes caught fire. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions are on scene. pic.twitter.com/1vBLnTnY8R
— Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department (@clearwaterfire) February 2, 2024
Delivery driver Laketa Collins described seeing a ball of bright white light falling into the dark sky from her nearby car window.
Clearwater resident Steven Ascari said he heard what sounded like an explosion as his entire home began to shake.
“And the next thing I saw was a huge column of smoke,” he recalled to CNN.
Some neighbors report at least four deaths.
“Four souls left the plane,” a mobile home park resident, Noreen Adams, wrote on Facebook Friday.
“We’re not sure how many there are in the house,” she continued. “Smoke is still blowing into the bay we are in.”
The majority of the community are older people with health issues, she added.
Clearwater Police were at the crash site and worked to secure and maintain the scene
Firefighters were called to the burning crash site at Bayside Waters Mobile Home Park
It is not yet clear how many people were on board the Beechcraft Bonanza V35 single-engine aircraft itself
The pilot reported an engine failure and disappeared from radar about 3 miles north of an airport runway, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman told CNN.
Clearwater police were at the crash site and were working to secure and preserve the scene, Police Chief Eric Gandy said at the briefing.
Footage from the scene showed plumes of red smoke rising from several mobile homes as shocked residents stood nearby in a nearby parking lot.
Other videos posted on social media show firefighters battling the blaze with hoses as flames engulf homes and surrounding trees.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.