kstp.com - At least 7 dead after plane crash in Owatonna
At least 7 dead after plane crash in Owatonna
EYEWITNESS NEWS has confirmed that at least seven people are dead after a plane crashed during a landing at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport Thursday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The corporate jet was reportedly flying from Atlantic City, New Jersey when it crashed near the northwest section of the airport.
According to preliminary FAA reports, the plane is owned by East Coast Jet. The plane was a Hawker 800 series jet, according to Viracon, a glass fabricator company.
Don Pyatt, president of Viracon, said the customers were from "a couple of different companies" who were coming to the glass manufacturing plant to discuss a "major project" in Las Vegas. Pyatt declined to say what companies were involved or what the project was.
Viracon said the victims were scheduled to meet at their Owatonna-based offices, before taking off again for Tennessee.
Severe weather passed through the region earlier in the morning, causing serious damage to structures in the area.
The crash came as a line of storm thunderstorms moved across southern Minnesota, knocking out power lines, snapping trees and damaging agricultural buildings.
In Clara City, about 120 miles northwest of Owatonna, the high winds blew a grain bin and grain conveyor across state Highway 23, knocking down the primary power line to the city.
"We have major, major damage in town," Roger Knapper, Clara City public works emergency management director, told the West Central Tribune of Willmar. "You can look anyplace and there are trees all over the place."
Wind speeds were estimated at 80 miles an hour when the storm hit the small town about 7 a.m.
The storm continued east, hitting Mankato about 8 a.m. with 60-mile-per-hour winds. KTOE-AM reported that some roads were blocked by fallen branches, there were scattered power outages and a VIP tent at the Minnesota Vikings training camp was damaged.
Owatonna is a town of about 20,000 about 60 miles south of the Twin Cities.