Five Injured as Aircraft Smashes into Retirement Village Car Park

Several people have been injured after a light aircraft crashed

A small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near a retirement home in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, injuring several people. Emergency response teams, including multiple ambulances, arrived at the scene to assist survivors. Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the air as fire crews classified the situation as a mass casualty incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that five people were on board the six-seater Beechcraft when it crashed into the Brethren Village Retirement Community. The plane was en route to Springfield, Ohio, but lost power shortly after takeoff from Lancaster Airport and veered off course before impact. The crash resulted in several parked cars catching fire, with the tail of the plane visible resting on top of them.

The remains of the burnt out plane in the car park

An emergency alert indicated multiple patients, including burn victims, as a result of the crash. Local witnesses expressed their shock at the tragic event, emphasizing the devastation caused in the area.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that state police and first responders were on-site assisting with rescue efforts, assuring that all necessary resources were available. Officials have yet to confirm the full extent of injuries or any fatalities.

The remains of the burned out rear section of the plane, and a car

This incident adds to a series of aviation accidents in the United States in 2025. Last month, two people died in a plane crash at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona. Earlier this year, a flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Toronto flipped on the runway and burst into flames upon impact. In January, a commercial jet collided with a military helicopter over Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of 67 people as both aircraft crashed into a river below. The recent string of crashes has raised concerns over air travel safety nationwide.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash in Manheim Township, while rescue operations remain ongoing at the site.