Several scientists from The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) who were on their way to Ohio to investigate an explosion at a metal fabrication plant were killed when their plane crashed in Arkansas. The pilot and all four of the plane's passengers died as a result of the accident. This company is also analyzing the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio railroad accident. They were contracted by Norfolk Southern, the company of the crashed convoy.
In a statement released by CTEH, the company confirmed that the five deceased, including the pilot, were members of its staff and were on their way to Ohio. The accident took place near the Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock, Ark. According to initial investigations, the plane had just taken off when it hit the ground, crashing near a factory in the vicinity of the airfield. The causes of the incident are unknown at this time.
Environmental scientists headed to Ohio for the clean-up die in a plane crash ...
... in Little Rock, Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/pPIHVsRnhN
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) February 23, 2023
Ohio explosions investigation
It was initially thought that the scientists were headed to East Palestine, Ohio, to continue investigations into the chemical spill caused by the train derailment, which is also being investigated by CTEH. The company itself clarified to the media that these workers were instead on their way to Columbus, Ohio due to the explosion at a metal factory this week that killed one person and injured twelve.
CTEH tells @THV11 their team was headed to Ohio in response to a metal plant explosion in Bedford. https://t.co/AkVp4RtV3C
— 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓌𝒾𝓃 (@ashley_godwin) February 22, 2023
Bad weather is the presumed cause
Although the causes of the accident are still under investigation, bad weather in the area seems to be the reason for the accident. In fact, the National Weather Service in Little Rock had warned of showers and thunderstorms at the time of the flight.
A line of showers and thunderstorms is crossing the metro area at this time. Expect brief, heavy rain and wind gusts around 40 miles an hour as this line blows through. #arwx pic.twitter.com/oRw33XLJDb
— NWS Little Rock (@NWSLittleRock) February 22, 2023
