A single-engine plane crash at the Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport on Saturday afternoon resulted in multiple fatalities, the National Park Service reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. when, according to eyewitnesses, the aircraft was attempting to land at the historic airport. The plane crashed in a wooded area and subsequently caught fire, prompting a response from the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department and other local fire units who extinguished the blaze.
“This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the families of those involved,” said a spokesperson for the National Park Service, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
The exact number of casualties has not been disclosed pending notification of next of kin. Authorities have not released information about the plane’s origin or its intended destination.
In response to the crash, the National Park Service has closed the First Flight Airport until further notice. The Wright Brothers National Memorial will also be closed to visitors on Sunday.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also been notified and is expected to assist in the inquiry.
“Our investigators will be on scene first thing tomorrow morning to begin the process of determining what led to this tragic event,” an NTSB spokesperson stated.
The crash site’s proximity to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which commemorates the first successful powered flights by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903, adds a poignant note to the tragedy.
Local authorities are asking the public to avoid the area to allow investigators unimpeded access to the crash site. Updates on the memorial’s reopening will be provided through the National Park Service’s official channels.
