Plane crash in B.C. injures 10

RICHMOND, B.C. – A small plane broke into pieces as it crashed on a city street while approaching Vancouver’s airport Thursday, injuring all nine people aboard and someone on the ground. No one was killed.

Alyssa Polinsky, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health, said three people were rushed to Vancouver General Hospital in critical condition, while three more were stable.

She said another three people were taken to the nearby Richmond General Hospital with injuries that are considered non-life-threatening.

A pedestrian was also sent to the hospital after being hit by a flying object. The person’s condition was unknown.

“We have everything from burns to fractures and back injuries,” Polinsky said late Thursday.

The plane, a twin-engine Beech King Air 100, can carry up to nine passengers.

The plane landed near a street leading to the airport, leaving large sections of the plane in the grassy median.

The plane was bound for Kelowna but turned around. An airport statement said the Vancouver Airport Authority went into emergency mode at 4:12 p.m.

Officials for the airport said the plane is operated by the British Columbia-based Northern Thunderbird Air.