skibeagle
1st Dec 2004, 15:16
Small Jet Crashes in St. Louis, Killing 2
ST. LOUIS - A corporate jet crashed on an island in the Missouri River shortly after taking off, killing two people, officials said.
A police helicopter spotted the wreckage of the twin-engine jet early Wednesday on Howell Island, about four miles south of Spirit of St. Louis airport, Sheriff's Department Lt. Craig McGuire said.
The HF20 jet had left the airport at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, bound for Toledo, Ohio, and disappeared from radar shortly afterward, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.
Airport director Richard Hrabko said workers reported that the jet sounded as if it was having trouble during takeoff. He did not say what company owned the jet, and the names of the two victims, both male, were not immediately released.
Rough weather, including wind gusting to more than 20 mph, hampered the search. When the plane was finally spotted, emergency workers had to go to the scene by boat because high water made the bridge to the island impassable.
"Conditions down here are really rough, due to high water, fast current and low visibility, fog, that kind of stuff," McGuire said.
ST. LOUIS - A corporate jet crashed on an island in the Missouri River shortly after taking off, killing two people, officials said.
A police helicopter spotted the wreckage of the twin-engine jet early Wednesday on Howell Island, about four miles south of Spirit of St. Louis airport, Sheriff's Department Lt. Craig McGuire said.
The HF20 jet had left the airport at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, bound for Toledo, Ohio, and disappeared from radar shortly afterward, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.
Airport director Richard Hrabko said workers reported that the jet sounded as if it was having trouble during takeoff. He did not say what company owned the jet, and the names of the two victims, both male, were not immediately released.
Rough weather, including wind gusting to more than 20 mph, hampered the search. When the plane was finally spotted, emergency workers had to go to the scene by boat because high water made the bridge to the island impassable.
"Conditions down here are really rough, due to high water, fast current and low visibility, fog, that kind of stuff," McGuire said.