DARTMOUTH, Mass. (BN24) — A small aircraft crashed onto the median strip of Interstate 195 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Monday morning, killing two people aboard the plane and injuring one motorist, according to the Massachusetts State Police.
The fixed-wing aircraft went down around eight fifteen in the morning local time on the highway median between New Bedford and Fall River. The crash caused major disruptions to traffic in the area and prompted a large-scale emergency response.
Massachusetts State Police stated that two people aboard the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities are being withheld until family members can be notified. One individual on the ground, possibly a motorist, was injured and transported by private vehicle to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. The extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane descending rapidly before it burst into flames upon impact. Video footage from the scene showed the main fuselage of the aircraft engulfed in flames, with debris scattered across the highway. Another burning section of the plane appeared to have landed on the opposite side of the road near the shoulder. A damaged car was also visible, though it remained unclear whether it was struck by the plane or damaged otherwise.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation confirmed that both westbound and eastbound lanes of Interstate 195 were shut down to secure the area. Initially, only the westbound lanes at Exit 19 were closed, but the closure was later extended in both directions as emergency crews arrived to handle the wreckage and fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation into the cause of the crash. According to officials, the plane might have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport, located just a few miles away. However, it appears the pilot did not file a flight plan, and the exact number of occupants aboard remained uncertain.
Emergency personnel from Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fall River rushed to the crash site, along with Massachusetts State Police units, fire departments and EMS responders. The Westport Fire Department confirmed via Facebook that its team also assisted Dartmouth authorities in fire suppression and rescue operations.
The wreckage fire was extinguished after several minutes, but the scene remained cordoned off for hours as investigators documented debris and examined the crash pattern. State police said Interstate 195 would likely stay closed for several hours until the wreckage was cleared and the area deemed safe for reopening.
Local traffic was diverted through nearby routes, causing major congestion throughout the morning commute.
Eric Desouza, one witness traveling on Interstate 195, told NBC affiliate WJAR that he was in traffic when the plane came down. “We were coming down the highway, and suddenly everyone slammed on their brakes,” Desouza recalled. “There was smoke and fire ahead, and within minutes, police and firefighters were everywhere.”
Desouza said drivers were told to reverse their vehicles and turn around on the highway after the crash. “It’s not something you expect to see on your way to work,” he added. “No one ever imagines a plane coming down on a highway.”
Another witness described seeing a trail of smoke in the sky before the plane made an abrupt descent. “It looked like the engine was failing,” the witness said. “Then it disappeared behind the trees, and seconds later, there was an explosion.”
Residents of the Dartmouth area reported hearing a loud bang followed by plumes of black smoke visible from several miles away.
Officials have not confirmed what caused the aircraft to lose control, but engine failure or pilot error are among the early possibilities being considered. The FAA said it will analyze the wreckage, flight path data and communication logs to determine the cause of the accident.
The crash represents the latest in a series of small aircraft accidents in the northeastern United States. Federal aviation safety officials have been examining patterns in general aviation incidents to identify potential safety improvements.
The National Transportation Safety Board typically takes several months to complete investigations into aircraft accidents, issuing preliminary reports within weeks before conducting more comprehensive analyses of mechanical systems, weather conditions, pilot qualifications and other factors.
Massachusetts State Police urged anyone with additional information about the crash or who may have witnessed the aircraft’s final moments in the air to contact investigators.
