Six people were killed Sunday morning when a small twin-engine aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 7 a.m. in a wooded area behind a home between Spring Run Road and King Graves Road NE, just a few miles from the airport runway. Officials confirmed the Cessna 441 was carrying two crew members and four passengers. No survivors were found.
The aircraft was en route to Bozeman, Montana, and went down approximately seven minutes after departure, according to a joint press conference held at 5 p.m. by the Western Reserve Port Authority, Howland Police Department, and Howland Fire Department.
Fire Chief Ray Pace said a resident called 911 after hearing a loud explosion and spotting flames behind her house. Emergency crews from multiple agencies, including Trumbull County HAZMAT, responded to the scene. Fuel management was among the primary concerns upon arrival.
The names of the victims have not yet been released. Officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While King Graves Road NE has since reopened, local officials are urging the public to stay clear of the area as the investigation continues.