AKRON, Ohio — A small plane slammed into a home Thursday afternoon, killing two people and erupting into a massive fireball that sent thick black smoke pouring over an entire residential neighborhood.
The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m., according to the Akron Fire Department.
Both victims were on board the aircraft. As of Thursday night, neither had been identified.
No one inside the home was reported injured.
Residents Heard Explosions Before Crews Arrived
Neighbors were the first to know something had gone terribly wrong.
Multiple people flooded emergency lines reporting loud explosions before firefighters even reached the scene.
“We got more calls that people heard explosions and we arrived to heavy smoke coming out of the house,” said Akron Fire Department District Chief Sierjie Lash at a press conference.
“We addressed it, approached it as a house fire.”
Two homes in the area had to be evacuated as crews worked to bring the blaze under control.
Plane Had Just Taken Off Miles Away
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft was a Piper PA-28, a single-engine plane commonly used for private and training flights.
It had taken off from Akron Fulton Airport — located just about 4 miles east of where it went down.
What caused the plane to go down is not yet known. The FAA is expected to investigate.
Video Shows Massive Smoke Plume Over Neighborhood
Video footage shared on social media captured the scale of the scene.
A thick column of black smoke rose high above the neighborhood’s rooftops. Flames were visible at the base of the smoke as it climbed into the sky.
The aircraft itself was not visible in the footage — consumed by the fire on the ground below.
Investigation Is Ongoing
Authorities have not yet released the names of the two people killed.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board typically lead inquiries into aviation accidents of this kind.
Neighbors in the area are shaken, and two families have been displaced from their homes.
Did you witness the crash or know someone affected? Share what you saw in the comments — your account could help others understand what happened.
