Plane crash kills 4 at New Mexico airport

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: BNO news

ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Four people were killed on Saturday morning when their jet crashed upon take-off from an airport in New Mexico, federal officials said.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the accident happened around 9.30 a.m. local time when a Gulfstream IV was taking off from Roswell International Air Center near the city of Roswell. It briefly became airborne before the aircraft slammed into the ground.

The aircraft, which can carry between 14 and 21 people depending on its configuration, was carrying out a test flight and Lunsford said all four people on board were killed.

Read more: http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/04/plane-crash-kills-4-at-new-mexico-airport/

[FirstLight]

1. roswell...

cue the x-files intro...

sorry, not to make light of it. But with all the crazy shit happening in the world these days, i am just bad-newsed out

[FirstLight]

2. roswell...

cue the x-files intro...

sorry, not to make light of it. But with all the crazy shit happening in the world these days, i am just bad-newsed out

[formercia]

3. I guess the repair didn't work.

Hard way to find out.

[rabs]

4. It was not just any plane

It was a $60 million Gulfstream 650, an ultra-luxury business jet. The planes are scheduled to begin flying in 2012. The plane that crashed was on a takeoff and landing exercise.

TV news from Roswell tonight said the two pilots and two Gulfstream engineers were the victims. Reports say the right wing touched the runway on takeoff and when pilot tried to correct, the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to skid and burst into flames. It stopped and burned very near the control tower.

The Roswell airport used to be Walker AFB back during WWII and the Cold War. The B-29 crews who dropped the A-bombs on Japan trained there. Later, giant B-36 aircraft were stationed at Walker.

Because it has very long runways, the airport is now used by Boeing and other companies to test fly their newest jumbo jets. Pilots from around the world come to Roswell to learn to fly the latest planes.