FedEx Plane Crashes, Catches Fire (VIDEO + PICTURES)
A FedEx plane crashed while trying to land at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in Texas Tuesday morning. The plane skid off the runway and caught fire. The two crew members on-board suffered what appear to be only minor injuries.
FedEx Plane Crash: The Details
Investigators say the FedEx cargo plane — an ATR-42 twin-turboprop operated under contract by Idaho-based Empire Airways — was arriving from Fort Worth Alliance Airport at about 4:30 a.m. The plane touched down at the end of the runway, officials indicate, then slid off and caught fire.
Both crew members were able to walk away from the crash and were taken to the hospital. Local media outlets report one person was a 52 year old man from Portland, Oregon, and the other was a 26 year old woman from Tacoma, Washington. Both are believed to be okay.
The conditions at the time of the FedEx plane crash were described as “freezing mist,” though officials do not believe weather was a factor in the crash. Neither the official cause of the crash nor of the subsequent fire has yet been determined.
FedEx Plane Crash Pictures
Click on any of the following FedEx plane crash pictures to enlarge the images.
FedEx Plane Crash Video
The following video is a compilation of live reports, including footage from the scene of the crash and the full press conference with Lubbock Airport officials:
The following video shows more raw footage from the scene of the crash:
