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| Six killed when plane crashes into house in Gaithersburg | Six killed when plane crashes into house in Gaithersburg |
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| Six people were killed when a plane crashed into a house in Montgomery County on Monday morning, authorities said. | Six people were killed when a plane crashed into a house in Montgomery County on Monday morning, authorities said. |
| Three people aboard the plane and three people inside the house were killed in the crash, according to a tweet from the Montgomery County fire department. The incident occurred about a mile northwest of the Montgomery County Airpark. | Three people aboard the plane and three people inside the house were killed in the crash, according to a tweet from the Montgomery County fire department. The incident occurred about a mile northwest of the Montgomery County Airpark. |
| (Air traffic control audio: ‘There’s nothing left’ of this house) | |
| At an afternoon news conference, police said that the victims inside the house were an adult woman, Marie Gemmell, 36, and her two sons, 3-year-old Cole Gemmell and Devon Gemmell, an infant. They were found together on the second floor of the house. | |
| “She tried to save these kids,” Police Chief Thomas Manger said. “She had nowhere to go. She couldn’t get out of the bathroom. One kid was between her legs, and the other was in her arms.” | |
| Police initially provided only their last names. Earlier in the day, authorities said that five people lived in the house at 19733 Drop Forge Lane, and that a father and one child were outside the home and accounted for. | |
| Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department, said that the three victims aboard the plane were found dead at the scene and were not transported to a hospital. | Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department, said that the three victims aboard the plane were found dead at the scene and were not transported to a hospital. |
| It took emergency personnel until almost 4:30 p.m. to confirm that three people in the house had also been killed. | It took emergency personnel until almost 4:30 p.m. to confirm that three people in the house had also been killed. |
| Just before 4 p.m., Montgomery County Fire Chief Steven E. Lohr said crews had not found any bodies in the sections of the home that they had been able to get to. Firefighters could be seen walking on the second floor of the house near the heavily damaged portion. | Just before 4 p.m., Montgomery County Fire Chief Steven E. Lohr said crews had not found any bodies in the sections of the home that they had been able to get to. Firefighters could be seen walking on the second floor of the house near the heavily damaged portion. |
| Two other homes were also damaged in the crash. National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said at a news conference Monday afternoon that the plane cut a narrow gash through the roof of one house, slicing into what appeared to be a bedroom. Much of the plane came to rest against a second house. A wing, which contained fuel, catapulted into the third house, where the fire started and the three victims died. | Two other homes were also damaged in the crash. National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said at a news conference Monday afternoon that the plane cut a narrow gash through the roof of one house, slicing into what appeared to be a bedroom. Much of the plane came to rest against a second house. A wing, which contained fuel, catapulted into the third house, where the fire started and the three victims died. |
| Police said that the cause of death for the victims in the house may have been smoke inhalation but that it remained under investigation. | Police said that the cause of death for the victims in the house may have been smoke inhalation but that it remained under investigation. |
| The crash occurred in a cul-de-sac near Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg. Just after 11 a.m., a Montgomery fire department official said in a Twitter message that several houses were damaged and that firefighters were involved in a “search, rescue & firefight.” | The crash occurred in a cul-de-sac near Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg. Just after 11 a.m., a Montgomery fire department official said in a Twitter message that several houses were damaged and that firefighters were involved in a “search, rescue & firefight.” |
| (Plane crash in Gaithersburg causes road closures) | (Plane crash in Gaithersburg causes road closures) |
| Lohr said the initial call came in from a National Guard armory across the street as a report of an explosion and building fire, and authorities found that it was a plane that had crashed into the houses. He said fire crews were on the scene within seven minutes of the initial call. | Lohr said the initial call came in from a National Guard armory across the street as a report of an explosion and building fire, and authorities found that it was a plane that had crashed into the houses. He said fire crews were on the scene within seven minutes of the initial call. |
| Neighbors in the area said a family lived in the house, including young children who often played outside. They said the family was known to be friendly and hosted neighborhood get-togethers. | Neighbors in the area said a family lived in the house, including young children who often played outside. They said the family was known to be friendly and hosted neighborhood get-togethers. |
| “I’m sad, so sad,” said Marlon Cienfuegos, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 15 years. “You don’t want this to ever happen, and this time of year — it’s terrible.” | “I’m sad, so sad,” said Marlon Cienfuegos, who has lived in the neighborhood for about 15 years. “You don’t want this to ever happen, and this time of year — it’s terrible.” |
| Jim Siron, 56, who is another neighbor and lives several houses down, said two adults and three children lived in the home hit by the plane. “They are a nice family,” he said. | Jim Siron, 56, who is another neighbor and lives several houses down, said two adults and three children lived in the home hit by the plane. “They are a nice family,” he said. |
| He said he was working in his home this morning when he heard an explosion. He heard a boom and said: “My house shook.” | He said he was working in his home this morning when he heard an explosion. He heard a boom and said: “My house shook.” |
| Dianne Gayle, who also lives on the street, said she was working Monday morning at her home, heard a plane overhead and at first thought it wasn’t a big deal. Then, she said, she heard a boom and saw flames. She said she called 911 immediately and recalled saying to the dispatcher: “The house is on fire! The house is on fire! A plane crashed into the house! A plane crashed into the house!” | Dianne Gayle, who also lives on the street, said she was working Monday morning at her home, heard a plane overhead and at first thought it wasn’t a big deal. Then, she said, she heard a boom and saw flames. She said she called 911 immediately and recalled saying to the dispatcher: “The house is on fire! The house is on fire! A plane crashed into the house! A plane crashed into the house!” |
| “It’s just heartbreaking, ” she added. | “It’s just heartbreaking, ” she added. |
| Authorities said the plane was preliminarily identified as a private jet owned by an aviation company based in Chapel Hill, N.C. It reportedly had turned on final approach to land at the nearby airpark, just behind a Cessna 172 propeller-driven plane. | Authorities said the plane was preliminarily identified as a private jet owned by an aviation company based in Chapel Hill, N.C. It reportedly had turned on final approach to land at the nearby airpark, just behind a Cessna 172 propeller-driven plane. |
| The jet was a twin-engine Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100, which can carry four to six passengers. The incident was reported about 11 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB will investigate. | The jet was a twin-engine Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100, which can carry four to six passengers. The incident was reported about 11 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB will investigate. |
| The airpark is an uncontrolled runway, which means that, as opposed to larger airports, there is no air traffic control tower directing final approach. The county-owned airport opened in 1959 to relieve aviation traffic into what is now known as Reagan National Airport. Since the emergence of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and Dulles International Airport, the facility in Gaithersburg has transformed into one used by small planes and business travelers. | The airpark is an uncontrolled runway, which means that, as opposed to larger airports, there is no air traffic control tower directing final approach. The county-owned airport opened in 1959 to relieve aviation traffic into what is now known as Reagan National Airport. Since the emergence of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and Dulles International Airport, the facility in Gaithersburg has transformed into one used by small planes and business travelers. |
| The airport has about 100,000 annual departures and arrivals and is the fourth-busiest general aviation airport in Maryland. | The airport has about 100,000 annual departures and arrivals and is the fourth-busiest general aviation airport in Maryland. |
| There have been two aircraft accidents at the Gaithersburg airport this year. On Sept. 13, a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Cessna nosed over after landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Three weeks earlier, the pilot of a Piper plane was seriously injured when he made a forced landing after his engine failed. There have been 12 crashes at Gaithersburg since 1996, none of them fatal. | There have been two aircraft accidents at the Gaithersburg airport this year. On Sept. 13, a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Cessna nosed over after landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Three weeks earlier, the pilot of a Piper plane was seriously injured when he made a forced landing after his engine failed. There have been 12 crashes at Gaithersburg since 1996, none of them fatal. |
| Byron Valencia, 31, who lives about a half-mile from the crash site, said he heard a thump and ran upstairs to check on his 2-month-old son. Valencia said at the time that he was in his kitchen making a bottle for the baby. | Byron Valencia, 31, who lives about a half-mile from the crash site, said he heard a thump and ran upstairs to check on his 2-month-old son. Valencia said at the time that he was in his kitchen making a bottle for the baby. |
| “I heard the plane come over the house,” he said. “This one sounded like a jet, and then I heard a thump. It was pretty loud. I didn’t see anything but then I heard the sirens.” He said he then listened to his police scanner and heard of the crash. | “I heard the plane come over the house,” he said. “This one sounded like a jet, and then I heard a thump. It was pretty loud. I didn’t see anything but then I heard the sirens.” He said he then listened to his police scanner and heard of the crash. |
| “It’s a little nerve wracking,” he said of airplanes coming into the nearby airport in Gaithersburg. “They make you nervous because you never know when something can happen, and sure enough, something did happen.” | “It’s a little nerve wracking,” he said of airplanes coming into the nearby airport in Gaithersburg. “They make you nervous because you never know when something can happen, and sure enough, something did happen.” |
| Tracy Everett said he was driving his work truck when he looked up and saw that the plane was “unsteady” and in trouble. | Tracy Everett said he was driving his work truck when he looked up and saw that the plane was “unsteady” and in trouble. |
| “It was wobbly,” Everett said. “It was 100 to 200 above the trees.” He said the plane then did a rolling dive to the left, and then “I saw smoke.” | “It was wobbly,” Everett said. “It was 100 to 200 above the trees.” He said the plane then did a rolling dive to the left, and then “I saw smoke.” |
| He said he drove to the scene and “saw and heard a secondary explosion. It was so powerful you could feel it under your feet.” | He said he drove to the scene and “saw and heard a secondary explosion. It was so powerful you could feel it under your feet.” |
| Jocelyn Brown, 21, lives one street over from the crash site and said she heard the plane hit while inside her house. | Jocelyn Brown, 21, lives one street over from the crash site and said she heard the plane hit while inside her house. |
| She ran over to the crash site and said the plane looked like “it just fell apart.” | She ran over to the crash site and said the plane looked like “it just fell apart.” |
| “It’s like somebody took the screws out,” she said, the house right behind her still smoldering. | “It’s like somebody took the screws out,” she said, the house right behind her still smoldering. |
| Miriam Arevalo, who lives with her husband and two children a block away from the crash, said she was home waiting for her ride to work when she heard a big boom. | Miriam Arevalo, who lives with her husband and two children a block away from the crash, said she was home waiting for her ride to work when she heard a big boom. |
| “I heard a big explosion. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before,” she said. “I immediately thought, ‘Oh my God, it is a plane.’ ” | “I heard a big explosion. It’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before,” she said. “I immediately thought, ‘Oh my God, it is a plane.’ ” |
| Arevalo moved to the area eight years ago, and said residents live in fear of something like this happening. | Arevalo moved to the area eight years ago, and said residents live in fear of something like this happening. |
| “We hear the rumbling in the skies every day,” Arevalo said. “Planes always fly low. It could have hit any of the homes in the neighborhood.” | “We hear the rumbling in the skies every day,” Arevalo said. “Planes always fly low. It could have hit any of the homes in the neighborhood.” |
| Staff writers Ashley Halsey III, Luz Lazo, Mike Rosenwald and Julie Zauzmer and researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report. | Staff writers Ashley Halsey III, Luz Lazo, Mike Rosenwald and Julie Zauzmer and researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report. |
| Related: | Related: |
| Aug. 23 - Small plane crashes at Montgomery County airport; pilot seriously injured | Aug. 23 - Small plane crashes at Montgomery County airport; pilot seriously injured |