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'Children die' in US plane crash 'Children die' in US plane crash
(about 2 hours later)
A plane has crashed in the northern US state of Montana, killing 17 people on board, aviation officials say.A plane has crashed in the northern US state of Montana, killing 17 people on board, aviation officials say.
A witness said the light aircraft crashed in a cemetery as it approached the airport in the town of Butte. The light aircraft crashed in a cemetery as it approached the airport in the town of Butte.
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said several children were among the victims. A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said children were among the victims.
The pilot was flying from Oroville, California, when he diverted to Butte, the FAA said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport.The pilot was flying from Oroville, California, when he diverted to Butte, the FAA said. He tried to land but crashed 500ft (150m) from the airport.
Emergency services attend the crash site
The plane crashed in a cemetery close to the airport in cloudy weather conditions, Nick Dipasquale, who works at a nearby convenience store, told the BBC.The plane crashed in a cemetery close to the airport in cloudy weather conditions, Nick Dipasquale, who works at a nearby convenience store, told the BBC.
He said he had been told that the children aboard the plane were returning from a ski trip. He added that a rescue operation was under way at the scene of the crash.
He added that an operation was under way at the scene of the crash.
'Nosedive''Nosedive'
Reports suggest the pilot had filed a flight plan showing a destination of Bozeman, a ski destination about 85 miles (136km) southeast of Butte.
But the pilot cancelled his flight plan at some point and diverted for Butte, another FAA spokesman, Mike Fergus, told AP news agency.
"We think that it was probably a ski trip for the kids," Mr Fergus said.
A local reporter at the crash site told the BBC the area was sealed off, and officials were not letting anyone near it.A local reporter at the crash site told the BBC the area was sealed off, and officials were not letting anyone near it.
"I did speak to one eyewitness who said he saw the plane approaching from the west and nosedive into the Holy Cross cemetery just short of the Burbon Lee airport here in Butte," Pat Ryan from the newspaper the Montana Standard said."I did speak to one eyewitness who said he saw the plane approaching from the west and nosedive into the Holy Cross cemetery just short of the Burbon Lee airport here in Butte," Pat Ryan from the newspaper the Montana Standard said.
"I was on the scene speaking to eyewitnesses who basically described the plane coming in trying to make it to the runway and obviously not getting there.""I was on the scene speaking to eyewitnesses who basically described the plane coming in trying to make it to the runway and obviously not getting there."
He said witnesses told him there had then been an explosion and the plane had caught fire.He said witnesses told him there had then been an explosion and the plane had caught fire.
Les Dorr, an FAA spokesman, told the BBC that the plane crashed at approximately 1527 local time (2127 GMT).Les Dorr, an FAA spokesman, told the BBC that the plane crashed at approximately 1527 local time (2127 GMT).
He said the plane was a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft.He said the plane was a Pilatus PC-12 Swiss-made turboprop aircraft.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Have you been affected by this news?Are you in the area? Did you witness the crash? Have you been affected by this news?
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