Plane Crashes Into Mobile Home
Two people lost their lives Tuesday morning when a private jet crashed into a mobile home park in Odessa, Texas. The Cessna Citation 550, which had just taken off from Ector County Schlemeyer Airport, crashed around 7 a.m., according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Witnesses reported seeing the jet struggle to gain altitude before clipping a power line and crashing into an alleyway. The resulting impact caused a fire and two explosions that spread across the park. One woman was rescued from a burning mobile home, though her condition remains unclear as of now.
The victims were identified as Joseph Vincent Summa, 48, of Bellaire, Texas, who was piloting the jet, and Joleen Cavaretta Weatherly, 49, of Orange, Texas, a passenger. Both were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s obvious the pilot attempted to avoid the houses,” Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said during a news conference. The crash site was described as spanning nearly an entire block, with significant damage extending to nearby structures, including a restaurant named Dewey’s. Fortunately, no one at the restaurant was injured.
Local authorities shared striking images showing flames engulfing vehicles, burning fences, and thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the crash site. Chief Jason Cotton of Odessa Fire Rescue confirmed that dozens of emergency workers were involved in containing the fire, which was brought under control within a few hours.
The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB are investigating the crash, with investigators expected to arrive in Odessa on Wednesday to thoroughly assess the scene and recover the aircraft.
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