A fiery plane crash closed a highway in Massachusetts Monday morning due to a nasty fall nor’easter.
Troopers responding to Interstate 195 in Dartmouth around 8:15 a.m. learned that a fixed-wing aircraft had crashed in the grassy median, according to Massachusetts State Police.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the entire west side of I-195 was closed at Exit 19. There is also a left lane closure on eastbound I-195.
MassDOT said the closure was expected to remain in effect for “several hours.”
State police said the plane caught fire after impact with the ground.
A preliminary investigation indicated the pilot may have been attempting to land at a nearby airport, but there was no immediate information about injuries or how many people were on the plane.
“The plane may have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport, although it does not appear that the pilot provided the airport with a flight plan or the number of people aboard the plane,” state police said in a statement.
Video from the scene shared with Boston 25 showed a large number of first responders gathered around the wreckage of the plane.
Due to the current government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration was unable to comment on the crash.
“Due to a lack of funding, the FAA does not respond to routine media inquiries,” read a statement shared with Boston 25.
The accident occurred on a day when wind gusts of up to 55 mph and rainfall totals of up to four inches were expected from the storm.
Officers assigned to the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit are leading an investigation into the crash.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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