ODESSA, TX — A small aircraft crashed into a residential area in Odessa early Tuesday morning, igniting a large fire and claiming the lives of two individuals.
It happened around 7 a.m. in the 6800 block of Alderfer Avenue, causing significant damage to multiple mobile homes and shop buildings.
According to witnesses, the plane appeared to struggle to gain altitude after taking off from Schlemeyer Field. It clipped power lines on the south side of Yukon Road before crashing in an alley near 68th Street, between Alderfer Avenue and Stevenson Avenue. The Odessa Fire Rescue responded to the scene, finding heavy smoke and fire upon arrival.
Authorities stated that the pilot made an attempt to avoid nearby houses, but the impact still caused severe damage to power lines, a business on Yukon, and several structures in the area. Trailer houses and storage buildings in backyards were reported to have caught fire due to the crash.
One woman was rescued from a burning trailer home and transported to a local hospital, where she was reported to be in good condition. The fire has since been brought under control, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified to begin an investigation into the incident.
The Red Cross was also on the scene, preparing to open shelters for those displaced by the crash. More details on the assistance provided by the Red Cross are expected to be released soon.
As of now, the exact type of aircraft involved in the crash remains unclear. A report will be released soon by the National Transportation Safety Board.
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