Three children were among five Canadian citizens, who lost their lives in a tragic plane crash near Nashville, Tennessee, as confirmed by authorities on Tuesday.
Details such as the exact ages, names, and genders of the victims aboard the Ontario-bound flight were not immediately available, according to National Transportation Safety Board air safety investigator Aaron McCarter, who briefed reporters in Nashville.
The single-engine aircraft went down approximately 60 feet away from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40, close to the Nashville suburb of Charlotte Park, just before 8 p.m. on Monday, according to officials.
The plane had initially circled over John C. Tune Airport at an altitude of 2,500 feet before briefly departing. It was in the process of returning to the airport when it experienced a loss of power, McCarter explained.
“For reasons unknown, the aircraft descended and approached John C. Tune Airport and passed overhead at 2,500 feet,” McCarter stated. “The pilot reported that he was going to pass over the airport at 2,500 feet. Very quickly thereafter, the pilot reported a catastrophic engine loss of power, a complete loss of power.”
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The crash occurred approximately 3 miles from the airport. McCarter emphasized that the investigation was still in its early stages, and details regarding the decision to fly over the airport at 2,500 feet were yet to be determined.
During communication with air traffic controllers, the pilot, seemingly calm, reported a rapid descent of the aircraft. Despite the clearance of Runway 2 at John C. Tune Airport, the pilot expressed doubt about reaching the airport, stating, “I’m going to be landing; I don’t know where.”
As the situation unfolded, controllers urged the pilot to persevere, encouraging him with, “Keep flying that airplane! If you can glide in there, they’re clearing the runway for you!”
The ill-fated journey originated in Ontario, with stops in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The plane had been cruising at an altitude of about 10,500 feet with no reported issues for most of the journey, according to McCarter. The final NTSB report, identifying a potential cause for the crash, could take up to a year.
