Birmingham resident Eddie Smith, who lives on 90th Place North near the airport, said he heard a loud boom about 5 a.m.
"It shook my house so hard, I jumped up," Smith said.
A few minutes later, he said he heard another loud boom. Then it got quiet. He went outside to walk his dog and could see the smoke rising over the trees and hills. Smith said he was stopped by a Birmingham police officer who drew his weapon and ordered him to return to his home and said that there had been a plane crash.
Front section of aircraft separated from the rest of the aircraft, and is lying about 50 yards away. Five explosions were heard from the part on fire.
