4 adults, 1 child killed in Virginia plane crash; private jet reportedly departed from Fort Lauderdale

RICHMOND, Va. – A small private jet crashed in woods and burned Sunday afternoon near a small airport in rural Virginia, killing all five people aboard, police said.

Local 10 News obtained audio between dispatchers Monday, indicating that the Federal Aviation Administration stated that the plane had departed from Fort Lauderdale.

The twin-engine IAI Astra 1125 went down amid trees along an airport road in Hot Springs, a community in the shadow of the Allegheny Mountains, killing the pilot and three other adults along with a child, Virginia State Police said in a statement.

Police and other emergency responders converged on the site in Bath County after the crash occurred about 3 p.m.

A state police spokesman told The Associated Press that the plane caught fire on impact.

“Small crash site, everything is burnt, meaning the tail numbers are unidentifiable,” Sgt. Rick Garletts said Sunday night, adding state police were working with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board to try to identify the flight details and the occupants.

An FAA statement gave no preliminary information on the circumstances of the crash and said that the agency and the NTSB will investigate. Hot Springs is located about 165 miles (265 kilometers) west of the Virginia capital city, Richmond.

Local reports showed what appeared to be plumes of white smoke rising from an impact site. The airport was closed in the aftermath of the crash.

Police said they had no further details and planned no further updates Sunday evening as the investigation continues.