Authorities say nine people were killed Saturday afternoon after a plane crashed in South Dakota.
Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board said the Pilatus PC-12 had 12 people on board when it crashed at about 12:30 p.m., shortly after taking off from Chamberlain, about 140 miles west of Sioux Falls.
Nine people were killed in the crash and three were injured. The plane was bound for Idaho Falls, Idaho, Knudson said.
Theresa Maule Rossow, Brule County State’s Attorney, said two children were among the fatalities.
One survivor was admitted to a hospital in Chamberlain, another was taken to Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell, and the most critical was taken to Sioux Falls by ambulance, Brule County emergency manager Katheryn Benton said.
The ages of the passengers ranged from 7 to 81. The survivors are three men ages 17, 27 and 28, Benton said.
The plane flew into Chamberlain from Idaho Falls on Friday morning, according to FlightAware. Its flight log also shows frequent flights in the past month, including trips to Everett, Washington; Las Vegas; and Nampa, Idaho.
According to the Pilatus website, the PC-12 can be flown by one pilot and carry up to 10 passengers.
Chamberlain and central south-central South Dakota were under a winter storm warning at the time of the plane crash.
The NWS said visibility was a half a mile with light winds reported at at the airport at 12:30 p.m. There have no snowfall totals reported for Chamberlain, but Gregory, which is south of Chamberlain, reported 8 inches of snow as of 2 p.m., the NWS said.
“The men and women of law enforcement, first responders and medical professionals should be commended in their heroic actions to rescue the victims in extreme weather conditions,” Maule Rossow said.
Source: USA Today
