ECTOR COUNTY, Texas – UPDATE: Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis has confirmed that at least two people have died following a plane crash south of Schlemeyer Field in Odessa early Tuesday morning.
The Cessna plane took off from Schlemeyer Field heading to Ellington Field in Houston before crashing a short time later.
“Witnesses said the plane was struggling to gain altitude…took out some powerlines, and ultimately crashed,” Griffis said. “You can see the pilot attempted to avoid houses…a witness said he saw the plane struggling and then upon impact he heard an explosion…some more explosions, and felt the heat.”
While the names of the people have not been released, Griffis did confirm at least two people have died. Another woman, residing in a mobile home on the ground, was rescued by fire crews and taken to the hospital for treatment from smoke inhalation.
The Red Cross is also on the scene and has set up a temporary shelter soon for those who have been displaced; that’s located at Connection Church, located at 4241 Tanglewood Lane. Please enter through the north entrance.
OFR Chief Jason Cotton confirmed that several mobile homes and storage buildings have been burned but that crews gained control of the fire shortly before 9:00 a.m.. No other injuries on the ground have been reported.
Additionally, crews also have several roads blocked off: Yukon between Andrews Highway and Dixie Boulevard, and the area around the crash site, off of 68th Street between Alderfer Avenue and Stevenson Avenue.
Griffis said these roads will remain blocked off for hours as the investigation continues; the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been called in to investigate.
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