Six people were tragically killed in a plane crash in California early Saturday morning, according to officials. The crash involved a Cessna C550 business jet, which went down at around 4:15 a.m. near the French Valley Airport in Murrieta, Riverside County. The Riverside County Fire Department reported that the aircraft was “down in a field” and “fully involved in fire.” The fire burned approximately one acre of vegetation before being contained at about 5:35 a.m.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all six passengers on board the plane were pronounced dead at the scene. However, their identities have not yet been released.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the plane had taken off from the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the crash to determine the cause.
This tragic incident marks the second plane crash in the area within a week. On Tuesday afternoon, another Cessna crashed near the French Valley airport, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The deceased individual was identified as 39-year-old Jared Newman, a resident of Temecula and the father of the three surviving passengers. CBS Los Angeles reported that Newman was operating the aircraft under a training license, which is prohibited by federal regulations.
As this is a developing story, further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Kerry Breen, a news editor and reporter for CBS News, contributed to this article. Breen’s reporting focuses on current events, breaking news, and substance use.
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How did the previous plane crash in the same area impact the investigation into the recent tragic plane crash
Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of Six in California
In a devastating incident early Saturday morning, six people lost their lives in a plane crash near the French Valley Airport in Murrieta, Riverside County. Officials have confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Cessna C550 business jet, which went down at approximately 4:15 a.m. The Riverside County Fire Department arrived at the scene to find the plane “fully involved in fire” in a nearby field. The fire, which burned about one acre of vegetation, was eventually contained by 5:35 a.m.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has sadly stated that all six passengers on board the plane were pronounced dead. However, their identities have not yet been released.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the ill-fated flight had taken off from the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently conducting investigations to determine the cause of the crash.
This tragic incident comes just days after another plane crash in the same area. On Tuesday afternoon, a separate Cessna crashed near the French Valley airport, resulting in one fatality and three injuries. The deceased individual was identified as 39-year-old Jared Newman, a resident of Temecula and the father of the surviving passengers. It was discovered that Newman had been operating the aircraft under a training license, which violates federal regulations.
As this story unfolds, we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Contributor: Kerry Breen, a dedicated news editor and reporter for CBS News, has provided valuable insights for this article. Breen specializes in reporting on current events, breaking news, and substance use.
Thank you for choosing CBS News as your source for the latest updates.
My heart goes out to all those affected by this tragic plane crash. It is truly heartbreaking to hear about such loss of life, especially considering this is the second incident in a week. Prayers for strength and comfort to the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.