5 dead after plane crashes into vehicle near Falcon Field in Mesa

Five people were dead after a small plane crashed on Greenfield Road near Falcon Field in Mesa late Tuesday afternoon.

The plane, an HA-420 HondaJet, crashed after takeoff into a vehicle around 4:40 p.m. just outside of the airport, officials said.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Donnell Evans said five people were on board. Local authorities did not say if the passengers were among those who died.

Emergency vehicles blocked the street, and traffic near the airport was expected to be shut down for hours.

“We are working a plane crash at Greenfield and McKellips Road in Mesa,” Mesa police said in a post on X. “The entire area will be closed down for several hours. Please look for an alternative route.”

Officials said Greenfield Road was closed northbound at Brown Road and southbound at McDowell Road. McKellips Road was closed eastbound at Val Vista Drive and westbound at Higley Road.

Flames and smoke were visible in the area.

A small field separates the airport runways from Greenfield Road. An orchard fronts the west side of Greenfield Road.

The plane is described as a “light business jet” by the manufacturer. It has six seats and a range of 1,600 miles with a top speed of 483 mph. The HA-420 jet was the first aircraft developed by HondaJet and made its first flight in 2003, according to industry trade journals.

The plane is 46.6 feet long, 14.9 feet high and has a wingspan of 39.8 feet. It has two wing-mounted engines. The plane costs about $5.8 million new.

HondaJet operates an authorized service center at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Its website lists one HA-420 for sale. It was built in 2017 with the asking price of $3.4 million.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were expected to investigate the incident, Evans said.

The NTSB will lead the case and was expected to provide updates Wednesday, said Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos spokesperson for Mesa Fire and Medical.

“Our community suffered a tragic loss this afternoon,” Ramirez-Ramos said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 dead after plane crashes near Falcon Field Airport in Mesa