‘Loud boom’: 5 dead after plane crash in Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five people died following a plane crash Thursday night in Texas, according to Hays County Homeland Security & Emergency Management. At 11:03 p.m., the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call about “a loud boom and fire.” Officials said first responders were sent to the Wimberley area of Hays County around 11:05 p.m. after reports of an aircraft down. All five people on board died. Their identities have not yet been released. “Preliminary information indicated the aircraft was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact,” officials said. “Based on current findings, there is no indication of a mid-air collision. A second aircraft traveling in the vicinity landed safely in New Braunfels.” The aircraft was identified as a Cessna 421C, which the National Transportation Safety Board said crashed into wooded terrain, and a post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. “After the wreckage is documented at the crash location, it will be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation,” NTSB said. Wimberley is located about 40 miles southwest of Austin. Wimberley, with a population of about 3,000, is a popular tourist and hiking destination in the Texas Hill Country next to the Blanco River. Wimberley Mayor Jim Chiles told The Associated Press he did not have any information about the crash. The Associated Press contributed to this report.