A plane carrying 21 people crashed yesterday during the takeoff process near Houston, Texas and all passengers and crew managed to get off the plane before it caught fire, firefighters said.
"All the passengers, 18 passengers and three crew members, survived," Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Stephen Woodard told a news conference.
The accident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. local time.
The plane, a twin-engine McDonnell Douglas bound for Boston, was engulfed in flames and completely destroyed by fire, as seen in images released by rescue services.
One person was slightly injured in the crash, said Waller County Judge Trey Duhon.
"Early reports indicate that all 19 passengers and crew safely exited the aircraft and there is a report of 1 injury with a passenger reporting back pain. At this time, numerous first responders are on scene and the plane is on fire and burning off jet fuel. That is the extent of information we have at this time." said Duhon on his facebook page.
The passengers managed to get off the plane on their own, said Tim Gibson, director of local emergency management services.
"They were shocked, very shocked," he added, stressing that the accident had "the best possible outcome."
