Small plane catches fire at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport after rough landing

2 people aboard plane, authorities say

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A small plane caught fire Wednesday morning at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Greg May said.

May said a fire truck at the airport spotted flames coming from the twin-engine plane after it made a rough landing.

Sky 10 was above the scene shortly before 11:30 a.m. and saw that fire rescue crews had already extinguished the flames with foam.

May said two people were aboard the plane.

"It looks like an older-type plane -- one that routinely flies back and forth, making deliveries to the Bahamas and to the islands," May said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Registry, the Beech BE 18 aircraft is owned by Chase William of West Des Moines, Iowa.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen confirmed that the plane's landing gear collapsed after it landed at the airport.

"The landing gear collapsed and you can see the damage to the propellers. They are all bent back," Mitchell Faine, who was at the airport at the time, said.

No injuries were reported.

The runway was closed for much of the day, but has since reopened.

"It is a good plane," Faine said. "It doesn't fly that fast. He was under control. Perfect conditions for a day. If you are going to drop something on the ground, this is the way to do it."

Bergen said the FAA is investigating the incident.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.