Five people were killed when a tiny plane crashed on Greenfield Road near Falcon Field Airport in Mesa late Tuesday afternoon.
The HA-420 HondaJet crashed into a vehicle shortly after takeoff at about 4:40 p.m., close outside the airport.
Donnell Evans, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration, stated that five individuals were on board. Local authorities did not reveal whether the passengers were among those who died.
Emergency vehicles barricaded the street, and traffic near the airport was likely to be shut down for several hours. Flames and smoke were evident in the vicinity.
“We are working on a plane crash at Greenfield and McKellips Road in Mesa,” Mesa police wrote in an X post. “The entire region will be closed for a few hours. Please look for an alternate path.
Police said in a post on X after 9 p.m. that some traffic was open in the area – northbound Greenfield was open, but motorists had to turn east at McKellips Road. Southbound Greenfield Road remained closed at McDowell Road. McKellips Road was open on both sides but with only one lane.
Police advised people to continue to avoid the area.
A small field separates the airport runways from Greenfield Road. An orchard lines the west side of Greenfield Road.
The manufacturer describes the plane as a “light business jet”. It features six seats, a range of 1,600 miles, and a top speed of 483 mph. According to industry trade publications, HondaJet’s first aircraft, the HA-420 jet, flew for the first time in 2003.
The plane measures 46.6 feet long, 14.9 feet high, and has a wingspan of 39.8 feet. It has two wing-mounted motors. The plane costs around $5.8 million when new.
HondaJet maintains an authorized service center at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Its website advertises one HA-420 for sale. It was built in 2017 and has an asking price of $3.4 million.
According to Evans, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to examine the incident.
The NTSB will lead the investigation, and updates are expected on Wednesday, according to Mesa Fire and Medical spokesperson Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos.
“Our community suffered a tragic loss this afternoon,” Ramirez-Ramos stated.