Citation Excel Hits Manufacturing Building in Connecticut

Four people, including the two pilots, were killed Thursday after the business jet they were on board struck a building in Farmington, Connecticut.

The Cessna Citation 560X, which was headed to Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, North Carolina, crashed around 10 a.m., shortly after takeoff from Robertson Field Airport in Plainville, Connecticut.

No one in the building was injured.

At a news conference, Farmington Police Lt. Tim McKenzie said the jet appeared to have had “some type of mechanical failure,” according to a report from Cox Media Group. He described Thursday’s crash as “horrific,” saying that police officers train for similar situations.

“We hope to never have to use this training,” he said. “Talking to the officers who first responded, you know, you felt helpless. There’s nothing you could do at that time.”

The FAA and NTSB have begun investigating the accident. The FAA will release the aircraft registration once investigators verify it at the scene.