As many as three people were killed when a Cessna Citation 525A came in for a landing at Santa Monica airport, veered from the runway and crashed into a hanger bursting into flames on Monday.
Although an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board could not discuss the reason for the crash until the investigation is complete, a witness at the scene at the time of the crash said that he saw the plane come in for a routine landing, saw a tire burst and the jet veer from the runway.
The number of people on the aircraft is as yet undetermined, but officials say that all aboard died in the crash.
According to investigators, two of the people aboard are presumed to be 63-year-old Mark Benjamin, the CEO of Morley Builders and his son Luke, who worked with the company as a senior project engineer. Luke’s girlfriend and Mark’s golden retriever were also reported to be on the aircraft. The elder Benjamin was presumably at the controls of the aircraft at the time of the crash.
The aircraft reported no problems during its flight and landing according to officials.
The aircraft has seating for the pilot,co-pilot and approximately six passengers.
Although the hanger collapsed, there has been no reports of any injuries or deaths on the ground as a result of the crash.