A single-engine plane crashed near a Southern California dragstrip Sunday morning, critically injuring two of its four passengers and damaging several parked vehicles as racing fans gathered for a national championship event.
The Piper PA-32 went down around 11:40 a.m. while attempting to land at Brackett Field Airport near Pomona, about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The crash occurred near the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) finals, temporarily halting the competition.
Three of the plane’s occupants were hospitalized, including two with critical injuries, LA County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher-Berkoh told the Los Angeles Times. No injuries were reported among spectators on the ground, though at least two parked vehicles were struck in the parking area alongside the track.
“Emergency crews responded immediately to the scene,” the NHRA said in a statement, confirming the plane was attempting to land at the nearby airport when the incident occurred. The racing event, which began Thursday, resumed after a brief pause for emergency response.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
