3 dead after small plane crashes in Tennessee

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Three people were killed after a small plane crashed in Williamson County on Wednesday, local officials confirmed.

Williamson County Chief Deputy Mark Elrod told reporters that the plane had left Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was headed to Louisville, Kentucky, but crashed in Tennessee near Leiper’s Fork, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) south of Nashville, around noon local time.

“It appears the plane crashed in mid-air,” Elrod said.

Elrod added that the debris field is more than a mile long, but no damage has been reported.

The names of the victims have not been released.

Jill Burgin, spokesperson for the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, said they received a 911 call around 12:05 p.m.

“He only talked about a possible plane crash, but he didn’t have a lot of details,” Burgin told reporters during Wednesday’s news conference. “He just heard a noise and saw debris, so that was all the information he gave.”

The Federal Aviation Association has identified the aircraft as a single-engine Beechcraft V35.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.