Plane crashes on the i-40 freeway in Nashville: what is known so far about the accident?

Tragedy struck when a lone aircraft plummeted into the ground near a bustling highway in Nashville, claiming the lives of five individuals, as revealed by the city’s metro police department. The aircraft went down off the eastbound lanes, beyond the Charlotte Pike exit, causing a huge explosion that was captured by CCTV footage and mobile videos from passers by.

Nashville plane crash kills five

Details surrounding the origin of the flight was unclear, with authorities piecing together the information they have. The Federal Aviation Administration swiftly mobilized to the crash site, supported by the National Transport Safety Board, and based on further reports and images, the tail number was N422RJ coming in from Huntsville, AL.

Prior to the crash, a distress call had come through, as the pilot desperately sought clearance to make an emergency landing due to what he said was engine failure. Sadly, this plea ended in devastation, as recounted by a spokesperson from the Nashville Fire Department, describing the impact as “catastrophic” and saying it “did not leave any survivors.” There were no additional casualties other than those in the plane.

As onlookers and those connected with the passengers deal with the aftermath, agencies including the FAA, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Nashville Fire Department begin the investigation into exactly what happened. One lane of the highway was initially closed but all three were later back fully open.