HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A business jet crash at Huntsville International Airport left three people dead Wednesday afternoon.
The plane crash claimed the lives of William Christopher II, 57, Centerpoint; Robin Gary Smith, 60, Yukon, Oklahoma and Kenneth Lynn Rousseau, 67, Harpersville, according to David Young with the Madison County Coroner's Office.
Coroner Craig Whisenant also confirmed that the plane's tail number was N793BG. That number belongs to a 1983 Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A registered to Synfuels Holdings Finance LLC of Birmingham.
An AL.com reporter went to Synfuels Holding Finance's offices at the Birmingham airport this morning and was told no one was available to talk about the crash.
Karen Yarbrough, acting public relations manager for Huntsville International Airport, said the air traffic control tower notified the airport of the crash at 2:21 p.m. The plane crashed on the northwest side of the airport, on airport property, according to Don Webster, chief of operations for HEMSI ambulance service.
"Our emergency units were on the scene within a very few minutes and put out the fire that resulted in the crash," Yarbrough said.
The turbojet plane was a non-commercial flight, with a 10-passenger capacity.
Regional help came from police and fire crews from Huntsville and Madison, as well as Alabama State Troopers. Crews soon confirmed three fatalities, all of whom were on board. Whisenant said two of those people were ejected from the plane. They were still not sure who was the pilot as of Wednesday night.
Yarbrough said no one else was on board the plane and no emergency personnel were injured.
"On behalf of the entire Huntsville International airport, Port of Huntsville, all of our regional mutual aid response teams are very saddened by this notification of loss of life," she said.
Yarbrough said earlier this afternoon that the flight "came in with some fire." She later clarified the plane was taking off from Huntsville.
The airport was immediately shut down. Flights recommenced about three hours later, but some arrivals or departures were delayed or cancelled.
"The proper authorities have been notified. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA have been notified and are responding. And until they're able to arrive to take over the crash site and begin the investigation, there will ll be no more information coming forth," Yarbrough said.
The NTSB will be examining the crash site Thursday morning to begin determining the cause.
Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong was at the crash site. He said the loss of life was very saddening and praised the response teams that got the fire out so quickly.
"It is truly a collaborative effort from a bunch of different agencies that have responded today and again, our hearts go out to those families that have lost loved ones today at Huntsville International Airport," said Strong.
A viewer of WAFF48 News in Huntsville sent this photo to the news station: