A fiery plane crash ended in tragedy, claiming the lives of two people who were on board. The small plane plummeted and erupted into a ball of fire near Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth, Texas. The incident on Sunday afternoon was caught on camera, showing a massive fire igniting when the King Air twin-engine aircraft made impact with the ground.
The crash occurred in the 12700 block of North Saginaw Boulevard, shortly after the plane departed Alliance Airport. The crash site is close to a business that stores trailers, campers, and 18-wheelers, leading to at least 10 tractor-trailers going up in flames.
The fire also engulfed a nearby patch of grass. According to reports, Fort Worth firefighters deployed 60 personnel, 10 fire trucks, 14 support vehicles, and three ambulances to the scene. After arriving on the scene, it took firefighters around 35 minutes to bring the flames under control.
Local witness 20-year-old Gregory Delano, who was at a nearby pool hall, ran toward the crash with the intent to help. He described seeing a massive ball of fire and hearing hissing as fuel tanks were breached. “When you have that much fire with fuel, it releases natural gas, and it starts hissing, trying to get that pressure to escape,” Delano explained.
He also noticed someone approaching the flames with a fire extinguisher. Delano said he knew, based on his knowledge from taking the firefighter entrance exam, that a 20-pound extinguisher would not be enough to control the blaze. He also recognised the danger the individual was in and quickly pulled the bystander to safety just seconds before the fuel tanks exploded.
Authorities quickly closed nearby roads, including Tinsley Road, Business U.S. 287, and Cattle Bend at Business U.S. 287, to allow emergency crews full access. Firefighters and Tarrant County deputies worked together to secure the industrial property, ensuring that no one else was injured and that the fire did not spread further.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the incident and is expected to lead the inquiry.
