Three people were killed when a small plane crashed into a public park in Bowie, Maryland, early Sunday morning. The Piper PA-28, carrying a pilot and two passengers, plummeted into a wooded residential area near a playground, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and Maryland State Police.
Crash Details and Response
The aircraft was en route from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airport in Gaithersburg when it went down around midnight. Elena Russo, spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, stated at a press conference that the plane crashed in a wooded area close to homes. Emergency responders were alerted to a possible crash but could not reach the wreckage until approximately 3:45 a.m. due to difficult terrain.
All three adults on board were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials believe the plane belongs to a Montgomery County flight school and was possibly on a training flight, Russo said. Debris from the single-engine plane was found strewn near a playground in Bowie, less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims pending notification of next of kin.
