LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A Comair regional jet crashed Sunday at 6:07 a.m. shortly after take-off from Lexington's Blue Grass Field airport. As of 10:30 a.m., there was one confirmed survivor on Flight 5191, which was headed to Atlanta and was carrying 47 passengers and three crew members.
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration told local media in Lexington that there were "significant fatalities" on the plane, a Canadair CRJ-200. The known survivor, a male, was in critical condition and undergoing surgery at the University of Kentucky hospital.
Comair is the commuter carrier for Delta Air Lines.
The plane crashed on private rural property that local radio stations reported is owned by Nick Bentley Properties, near the intersection of Versailles Road and Rice Road. The location is on the opposite side of Versailles Road from Keeneland Racecourse, which was being used as a staging area for emergency personnel. Major thoroughbred farms in the area, including nurseries Darley-at-Jonabell and Mill Ridge, were not affected.
In a press conference in Erlanger, Ky., Comair president Don Bornhorst said the list of casualties will not be released until the identities have been confirmed and families have been notified.
FAA and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were investigating on site in Lexington, Bornhorst said. Lexington coroner Gary Ginn told reporters the plane was mostly intact with passengers inside but had endured what he termed a "hot fire" upon impact.
Comair has established a toll-free hotline for family and friends seeking information at 1-800-801-0088.
The Blue Grass Field airport reopened shortly after 9 a.m. ET.
A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration told local media in Lexington that there were "significant fatalities" on the plane, a Canadair CRJ-200. The known survivor, a male, was in critical condition and undergoing surgery at the University of Kentucky hospital.
Comair is the commuter carrier for Delta Air Lines.
The plane crashed on private rural property that local radio stations reported is owned by Nick Bentley Properties, near the intersection of Versailles Road and Rice Road. The location is on the opposite side of Versailles Road from Keeneland Racecourse, which was being used as a staging area for emergency personnel. Major thoroughbred farms in the area, including nurseries Darley-at-Jonabell and Mill Ridge, were not affected.
In a press conference in Erlanger, Ky., Comair president Don Bornhorst said the list of casualties will not be released until the identities have been confirmed and families have been notified.
FAA and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were investigating on site in Lexington, Bornhorst said. Lexington coroner Gary Ginn told reporters the plane was mostly intact with passengers inside but had endured what he termed a "hot fire" upon impact.
Comair has established a toll-free hotline for family and friends seeking information at 1-800-801-0088.
The Blue Grass Field airport reopened shortly after 9 a.m. ET.
