US Airways Express jet crashes at North Carolina airport, killing all on board

Airline Industry Information, Jan 9, 2003

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

A US Airways Express jet crashed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, shortly after takeoff yesterday (8 January).

According to witness reports, the Air Midwest aircraft - a Beech 1900 twin-engine turboprop - lost altitude shortly after takeoff. Flight 5481 reportedly veered slightly, clipping the side of a US Airways maintenance hanger at the airport and flipping onto its back before crashing.

Air Midwest has confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 19 passengers and two crew members from Charlotte, N.C., to Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. Authorities have also confirmed that there are no survivors.

Two ground crew at the airport - who were originally reported missing - have now been accounted for, and none of the employees working at the hangar were injured during the incident.

Investigators are still examining the incident - which occurred in clear but windy weather - to determine the cause of the crash.

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