A small aircraft crash into townhouses in Fairview, Oregon, left three dead and set multiple buildings ablaze.
A small plane crash in Fairview, Oregon, early on Saturday left three people dead: the pilot, a passenger, and a resident of one of the affected townhomes. The crash occurred around 10:20 a.m., igniting a fire that engulfed at least two townhouses, local officials reported.
Firefighters arrived at the scene to find flames and smoke billowing from the impacted buildings, with debris scattered across driveways. Emergency responders quickly worked to contain the fire, as shown in social media videos reviewed by news outlets.
The aircraft, a Cessna 421C, reportedly experienced mechanical issues before it went down near Troutdale Airport, approximately 14 miles east of Portland. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the aircraft’s two occupants were the pilot and a passenger.
According to Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis, the plane initially struck a power pole or tower, which subsequently fell and ignited a small brush fire in a nearby field. The swampy terrain limited the spread of this secondary fire.
The aircraft continued its descent, crashing directly into a row of townhomes, which then caught fire. Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson John Plock stated that residents of neighboring homes were evacuated as a precaution.
Fire and police officials ensured that the impacted area was safely cleared, allowing firefighters to focus on extinguishing the flames that had overtaken the townhomes. The evacuation zone was kept in place until the fire was fully under control.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, with local authorities assisting in examining the mechanical issues reported before the incident.
