Small plane crashes into California hospital building, killing 2

[News_Editor]

Small plane crashes into California hospital building, killing 2

2011-07-08 13:56:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed on early Thursday evening when a small plane crashed into a hospital building in central California, local and federal officials said on early Friday morning.

The accident happened at around 7.30 p.m. local time when the small plane, a single-engine Mooney, crashed into a medical office building next door to Watsonville Community Hospital in Watsonville, a city in Santa Cruz County which is part of the San Francisco Bay Area.

"The fire department responded immediately to contain and extinguish the fire," said Cindy Weigelt, a spokeswoman for the 106-bed hospital. "We do not believe anyone was inside the medical office building at the time of the crash."

Local authorities confirmed that both people on board the aircraft were killed in the accident. Their identities were not immediately released, but Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the aircraft was registered in Santa Cruz and had departed Watsonville Airport just before it crashed.

"Because of the quick response by the fire department, no evacuation was necessary," added Weigelt. "All areas of the hospital remain operational, including our emergency room, and our continued focus is on the care and well-being of our patients. Everyone at the hospital is extremely grateful for the fast response of our fire department. We thank the firefighters for their efforts to quickly bring the fire from this accident under control."

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the accident.

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