Smoke seen at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (Photo Credit: Josh Beckman/KMUW)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say at least four people are dead after a small plane lost power and crashed into a building at a Kansas airport. The twin-engine Beechcraft airplane lost power shortly after takeoff from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport Thursday. Wichita Fire Marshal Brad Crisp says at least four people inside the building were killed and five others injured. Four people remained missing early Thursday afternoon, but a search was halted at midday after a portion of the building collapsed and was too dangerous for crews.
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an earlier version of this story was posted this morning:
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials say at least four people are dead after a small plane reported losing engine power and crashed into a building at a Kansas airport. Wichita Fire Chief Ronald D. Blackwell says other victims were taken to a hospital and five more are unaccounted for after the Thursday morning crash at Mid-Continent Airport, from which huge plumes of black smoke could be seen for miles around the city. Blackwell says only the pilot was on the plane and that both people confirmed dead were found inside the building. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro says a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air reported trouble just after takeoff Thursday morning. Molinaro says the plane crashed into the building on airport property while attempting to return to the runway.