One person has died after a small plane crashed shortly after take-off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, on Thursday afternoon.
The aircraft came down at about 2.48pm in a heavily wooded area west of the airport’s main runway, according to officials. Emergency crews found the wreckage engulfed in flames.
Initial reports suggested several people may have been injured, but Paine Field later confirmed that the pilot was the sole occupant and had died in the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Glasair, a type of small plane manufactured in two-seat and four-seat configurations. The cause of the crash has not been established.
The airport’s main runway was temporarily closed while emergency crews dealt with the scene. Three departing flights were delayed and one incoming flight was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to FlightAware.
The runway has since reopened and normal operations have resumed.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances of the crash.
