No survivors found after plane that flew over Washington crashes in Virginia

The Federal Aviation Administration says that on Sunday, a Cessna Citation took off from Elizabethton, Tennessee and inexplicably crashed around 3:30 p.M. Near the mountainous terrain of Montebello, Virginia, before flying straight down a path towards Long Island, New York. The plane was headed for MacArthur Airport on Long Island.

Within the country, the aircraft flew directly above the capital, despite technically being airborne over some of the most heavily regulated airspace. The reason for the plane’s lack of response, the cause of the crash, and the number of people on board were not immediately evident.

A small plane flying to Long Island crashed in the mountains of Virginia on Sunday. https://t.co/t5EpveXHMZ

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) June 5, 2023

The official, who was not authorized to discuss the details of the military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the Associated Press that the small plane, which later crashed, did not respond to the military jet’s radio transmissions.

In the St. Mary’s Wilderness, the airplane experienced a pre-crash incident, descending at one point with a velocity exceeding 30,000 feet per minute. This resulted in a swift downward spiral, as indicated by flight tracking websites.

A sonic boom was heard in Washington and certain areas of Virginia and Maryland, which was generated by an F-16 fighter jet that had been given permission to fly at supersonic velocities, as stated later by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Travis Thornton, a resident of Fairfax, Virginia, settled on the couch next to his wife Hannah. Just as he began recording himself playing the guitar, they were startled by a loud rattling and rumbling noise that could be heard on the video. Jumping up to investigate, the couple checked upstairs where their kids were and then went outside to talk to their neighbors.

A sonic boom caused an explosion heard across Washington D.C. after the US scrambled F-16 fighters to intercept an unresponsive plane that violated the airspace https://t.co/1PHv3FRTVh pic.twitter.com/wsCQjSCuye

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 5, 2023

According to the NORAD statement, it was stated, “Upon release, there is no risk to individuals on the surface and flares extinguish rapidly and entirely. Flares are utilized with utmost consideration for the safety of the intercepted airplane and individuals on the ground.” The NORAD planes also utilized flares during this occurrence, which might have been noticeable to the general public, as a means to divert the pilot’s attention.

Police stated that there were no individuals who survived. Rescuers arrived at the scene of the accident on foot approximately four hours later, and law enforcement officers were informed about the possible collision shortly before 4 p.M., According to Virginia State Police.

The plane that crashed in Melbourne, Florida was registered to Encore Motors Inc. The New York Times reported that John Rumpel, the owner of the company, his daughter, his 2-year-old granddaughter, their nanny, and the pilot were on board the plane. They were returning to their home in East Hampton, Long Island after visiting their house in North Carolina.

Rumpel, a pilot, notified the newspaper that he did not receive comprehensive information from authorities but suggested that the airplane might have encountered a decrease in pressurization.

Rumpel informed the newspaper that the aircraft descended at a velocity of 20,000 feet per minute, and it would be impossible for anyone to survive a crash at that speed.

F-16s moved fast to track the passed-out pilot of a small jet that ultimately crashed in southwestern Virginia. @JayOBTV has late-breaking details on the sonic boom that jolted the D.C. area. https://t.co/Ju3fIgsXKu pic.twitter.com/3YVorzNBo7

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) June 5, 2023

Contacted by The Associated Press, a woman who introduced herself as Barbara Rumpel, listed as the company’s president, stated that she had no response on Sunday.

The jet crashed in South Dakota, killing six people and destroying the pasture. The episode brought back memories of the 1999 Learjet crash, where professional golfer Stewart Payne aimlessly flew across the country with the cabin losing pressure.

President Joe Biden was playing golf at the military base in Maryland with his brother on Sunday afternoon. The incident had no impact on the president’s movements, said Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service. The fighter jet took off around the same time as Biden was playing golf at Joint Andrews Base.

According to a White House official, at Joint Base Andrews, the noise of the hurriedly departing aircraft was barely audible, and the president had received a briefing on the accident.