A twin-engine Cessna 421C aircraft crashed into a row of townhouses in Fairview, Oregon, near Portland International Airport and Troutdale Airport, on Saturday morning, according to official reports. The crash resulted in the death of the two occupants of the plane and one resident of the townhouse that was hit.
Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis had earlier reported that one person from the impacted townhouse was missing. Residents of the neighboring townhouses were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer John Plock explained that the plane had initially hit a power pole, causing parts of the plane to disintegrate and scatter around the crash site. The plane then crashed into the roof of a townhouse.
Social media was flooded with videos showing a fire and a large plume of smoke rising above the tree line in Fairview. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the crash occurred around 10:30 a.m.
Gresham Fire, with the assistance of other agencies including The Port of Portland, Portland Fire and Rescue, and Clackamas Fire, responded to the incident. The crash site was closer to the smaller Troutdale Airport, known for its flight training and recreational services.
The crash also caused a power outage in the area, leaving thousands of residents without electricity. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are set to investigate the incident.