OHIO — Authorities are investigating a deadly plane crash that killed six people Sunday morning shortly after takeoff from Youngstown Regional Airport.
The Cessna 441 aircraft went down just seven minutes after departure, crashing into a wooded area behind a home approximately two miles east of the airport.
The crash occurred near the intersection of King Graves Road and Henn Hyde Road in Howland Township.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol received the first report of the crash at 7:01 a.m. on Sunday.
Emergency crews arrived to find wreckage in a densely wooded area, complicating access for first responders.
At a press conference, officials confirmed that two of the deceased were crew members and four were passengers. The names of the victims have not yet been released, pending family notification.
Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace called the crash the deadliest in the area’s history. No firefighters were injured during the response.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation.
Two NTSB investigators are traveling to the scene and will examine the aircraft, pilot, and equipment involved.
Trumbull County Emergency Management Director John Hickey said both hazmat and drone teams were deployed to assist with the response. The Trumbull County Coroner also responded to the site.
King Graves Road and Henn Hyde Road remain closed, with officials warning the closures could continue throughout the day as the investigation proceeds.
