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8 Dead from Plane Crash in Owatonna, MNInvestigators on scene -- UPDATED A small plane crashed shortly after 9:30 yesterday morning at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in southern Minnesota while trying to land. The crash killed seven people at the scene, one died later at a hospital. Two others who were on the manifest never made it on the plane. There were strong storms in southern Minnesota at the time, with high winds, but it is still undetermined if the storms caused the crash. The small plane was a Raytheon Hawker 800 owned by charter firm East Coast Jets Inc. and had flown from Atlantic City, NJ to Owatonna, MN for a business meeting. More: WCCO-TV | Photos: Star Tribune Meanwhile, the storms that moved through Owatonna started in northeast South Dakota. Widespread damage is being reported from Aberdeen to Webster to Madison, MN.
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Crash is not blamed on the weather - yet
I wanted to clarify something that you posted on your front page regarding the aircraft crash this morning in Minnesota. I work for one of the largest aviation companies in the world so I do have some expertise when it comes to subjects like this. Your comment that the crash was blaimed on the weather is extremly premature and nothing more than jumping to conclusions. This is something that the media does all the time; however, most media outlets you will read regarding this crash took a much more responsible approach than yourself by saying that; "it is not yet determined if the weather played a roll in the crash." Our industry faces enough specualtion as it is, so we certainly don't need people speculating as to the cause of this crash. Lets let the facts and the experts determine the cause. I have included a couple of references below for suggestions on your edit.
Thank you,
Chris
"Stormy weather was moving through southern Minnesota at the time, with high winds, but it was unknown whether those conditions played a role in the crash" Startribune.com
"WIND GUSTS TO BLAME?"
"Wind gusts of 72 mph were reported in Owatonna around 8:35 a.m., but it is unknown what time the plane crashed or if the crash was weather-related." myfoxtwincities.com
Plane crash
Thanks for the clarification. Story has been amended. Most of the local news accounts I read seemed to be drawing that conclusion.
"A small jet crashed in strong thunderstorms Thursday while preparing to land at a regional airport in Minnesota" -- WCCO
Also, moments after ATC seemed to lose contact with the aircraft (listening to audio from time of crash), the tower issued a Wind Shear Alert for one of the runways at Owatonna.
Sorry for any confusion and jumping to conclusions. The story was written in haste and won't happen again.
Kory
Thank You
Kory,
I appreciate your profesionalism in updating the headline. Unfortunatly this story hit a little closer to home for me. Speaking profesionaly though, the last thing we need is more regulations on General Aviation, and unfortunatly that is the exact thing that seems to come from scenarios like this. Again, I appreciate your understanding.
Chris
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