5 Dead After Small Plane Crashes onto Tennessee Highway

The incident occurred on Monday evening in Nashville after the pilot reported engine failure in an emergency call

Five passengers have died after a small plane crashed onto a Nashville highway and burst into flames on Monday evening.

The single-engine plane crashed off the eastbound lanes of Nashville’s Interstate 40 just past the Charlotte Pk exit, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department shared in updates posted on X (formerly Twitter).

In traffic cam footage released by BNO News of the incident, the jet is seen crashing to the side of the busy interstate highway, narrowly missing driving cars, before bursting into flames on grassy terrain behind a nearby Costco.

Before the crash, the pilot shared that the aircraft had engine failure in an emergency call to John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at around 7:40 p.m. local time, the Associated Press and CNN reported.

Related: Two Dead After Small Plane Crashes and Bursts Into Flames on Florida Highway

According to the outlets, police department spokesman Don Aaron said the pilot was given the all-clear to make an emergency landing, however shortly after he reported that he wasn’t able to reach the airport.

Aaron recalled witnesses of the crash saying the plane was “obviously in distress as it was coming over the interstate.”

“We are fortunate the aircraft did not hit any buildings as it went down,” he added, per CNN. 

Related: 5 Dead, 379 People Evacuated After Japan Airlines Passenger Plane Bursts into Flames on Tokyo Runway

The Nashville Fire Department were on the scene following the crash.

“NFD crews responded to this single-engine airplane crash where heavy fire was present when they arrived on scene,” the NFD said in a statement posted on X. “Crews were able to put the fire out while preserving evidence so the appropriate agencies can investigate what led to the deadly crash.”

NFD spokesperson Kendra Loney added of the crash, per CNN, “That impact was catastrophic and did not leave any survivors.”

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Loney confirmed to the outlet that no drivers on the highway were injured in the crash.

The closure of I-40 East at mile marker 202 was enforced following the crash, Tennessee Department of Transportation Region 3 spokeswoman Rebekah Hammonds announced on X.

Authorities shared that the Federal Aviation Administration and The National Transportation Safety Board would be investigating the crash.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for further comment.

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