Small plane crashes on road in Vancouver, 11 injured

VANCOUVER – A small plane crash-landed on a road, hit a car and burst into flames after take-off in Vancouver, sending all nine aboard as well as two in the car to hospital, some with critical injuries, authorities said Friday.

The Kelowna-bound flight had looped back shortly after departure from Vancouver International Airport but fell short of the runway and collided with a car at 4:12 p.m. (2300 GMT) Thursday on a road leading to the airport.

“Shortly after departure, the crew advised that they were returning” to the airport, said Northern Thunderbird Air, which operated the Beechcraft King Air 100, Flight 204.

“All passengers and crew have been transported to hospital,” the company said in a statement.

The pilot and co-pilot are in “very critical condition” in hospital, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, while the others are in serious condition.

Nearby pedestrians had reportedly pulled the crew and passengers from the burning wreckage of the twin-propeller aircraft.