KEY POINTS
- One person was in critical condition, while the other two sustained minor bruises
- The crash resulted in several flight delays and cancelations
- Officials said the airport will be closed till Tuesday noon
One person was killed and three others were injured after a small plane crashed at a Utah airport Monday.
The light business jet, Embraer 505, with four passengers crashed at about 11.35 a.m. shortly after taking off from the Provo Municipal Airport, located just south of Salt Lake City, Airport Director Brian Torgersen said, reported KSLTV.
One of the injured was in critical condition, while the other two sustained minor bumps and bruises, according to officials.
“One individual has died as a result of the accident. One individual was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The remaining two individuals received what appears to be minor bumps and bruises,” the Provo city administration said in a statement on Facebook.
Hundreds of people were stranded after the airport was closed following the crash Monday. It is expected to reopen fully by Tuesday noon.
“As is typical with an incident of this nature, the Provo Airport has been closed awaiting an investigation by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board),” the statement added.
Provo Airport Closure:
The Provo Airport is closed until noon tomorrow (Tuesday) due to a small aircraft plane crash.
— Provo City (@provocity) January 2, 2023
Authorities believe it was not a weather-related crash.
As the debris from the plane crash scattered across the main runway, several flights were delayed or canceled. About 10 flights out of Provo were canceled. At least 10 flights heading to Provo were either postponed or diverted.
“There’s debris scattered across the airfield that have to be left in place until that investigation takes place,” Torgersen said, KUTV reported.
He described the crash as “pretty impactful with today being kind of the end of holiday. Couldn’t have happened at the worst time for our passengers.”
Several passengers took to social media complaining that the airlines failed to make alternate arrangements.
Hey @Allegiant what are you planning on doing for me for delaying my flight 3 hours? I’m trying to get to the rose bowl in Pasadena but I’m stuck in Provo because the plane isn’t here. This is absurd.
— Jared Hartman (@Supa_J0824) January 2, 2023
What the heck happened with the customer support at @AmericanAir Travelled from north Caicos with wife and four kids only to find out the flight delayed a day. Stranded in Provo with no place to stay in the busiest time of the year with 4 kids. Cheapest hotel is $3k/night
— Stewie (@stuartpartridge) January 3, 2023
Amber Robinson, who was visiting family in Utah, said she had already boarded a plane to Arizona when the crash happened. All passengers had to get off the plane following the accident.
“That’s so life,” she told KSLTV. “You can’t help if it snows. You can’t help if there’s an accident.”
NTSB via Getty Images
