Plane Crashes Into Row of Townhouses, Ignites Fires in Portland Suburb
A small aircraft plummeted into a row of townhouses on Saturday morning in a suburb east of Portland, igniting a massive fire.
Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis reported that at least two individuals were on board the plane, and one resident of the townhomes remained unaccounted for, according to KPTV-TV in Portland. No fatalities have been confirmed at this time.
Photos and videos released by the news outlet show one of the townhouses engulfed in flames with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
One video captures smoke rising from the wreckage site.
NEW: Video shows the aftermath of a small plane crash in Fairview near the Troutdale airport https://t.co/bxyrJuJ16k pic.twitter.com/JZI08orU1W
— FOX 12 Oregon (@fox12oregon) August 31, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a twin-engine Cessna 421C, which reportedly went down around 10:30 a.m. near Troutdale Airport, approximately 30 minutes east of Portland.
As the plane descended, it struck a pole and power lines, sparking a brief fire in a nearby field, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The aircraft broke into multiple pieces as it crashed in the residential area of Fairview.
Troutdale Airport is described on the Port of Portland’s website as a "flight training and recreational airport."