Small business jet crashes into three houses

Airline Industry Information, August 5, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A small business jet aircraft crashed into three houses yesterday (4 August) before cartwheeling into a river less than a mile from Groton-New London Airport.

The Learjet aircraft had departed from Farmingdale Republic Airport on New York's Long Island, with two people on board. It was reportedly approaching Groton-New London Airport when it clipped a vacant home before cutting through two others and setting them on fire. The aircraft - registered to Jetpro LLC, a corporation based at New Hyde Park - broke apart and finally came to rest in the river.

Both people on board the aircraft were killed. No one on the ground was seriously hurt, although one woman was treated for minor injuries. About 13 people were left homeless or were told that they could not return to nearby homes.

Officials have recovered the aircraft's inflight recorder, which will be used to investigate the incident, according to The Associated Press.

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