Five people killed in twin-engine plane crash in Arkansas are identified as environmental consultants – who were en route to investigate deadly metal factory explosion in Bedford, Ohio

  •  Five people have been killed in a small plane crash – and they were en route to investigate a recent deadly explosion at a metal company in Bedford, Ohio
  •  The wreck occurred near Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas

By WILL POTTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 07:47 AEDT, 23 February 2023 | UPDATED: 10:57 AEDT, 23 February 2023

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Five people who were killed when a small plane crashed soon after takeoff near Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas were a group of environmental consultants. 

All of the deceased worked at The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, and they were traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to respond to a recent deadly explosion at a metal manufacturing plant in Bedford.

The twin-engine plane they were traveling in went down around noon Wednesday near a factory within a mile of the airport. 

Everyone on the plane, including the pilot, worked at CTEH. The company specializes in environmental data collection and incident management – especially in terms of industrial hygiene and toxicology. 

Dr. Paul Nony (pictured) is senior vice president of The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, and confirmed that five of his employees died in the small plane crash on Wednesday

Dr. Paul Nony (pictured) is senior vice president of The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, and confirmed that five of his employees died in the small plane crash on Wednesday

Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene investigating the wreck, with local reports indicating there were high winds and thunderstorms in the area at the time of the crash. 

Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH, confirmed that the five deceased worked at the company. They were heading to investigate I. Schumann & Co’s recent explosion – in which the brass and bronze alloys firm burst into flames, leaving molten metal raining down on the surrounding area, and killing one staff member.

Dr Nony told DailyMail.com: ‘We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues. We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers.’  

Five people have been killed after a small plane crashed near Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH, confirmed that the five deceased worked at the company

Five people have been killed after a small plane crashed near Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH, confirmed that the five deceased worked at the company

Pictured: The fire burning at I. Schumann & Co, in Bedford, Ohio. The metal manufacturing company exploded on Monday - killing one worker and injuring multiple others. It's now been revealed that the five people who died in the small plane crash on Wednesday were in fact environmental consultants who were responding to the Bedford blast

Pictured: The fire burning at I. Schumann & Co, in Bedford, Ohio. The metal manufacturing company exploded on Monday – killing one worker and injuring multiple others. It’s now been revealed that the five people who died in the small plane crash on Wednesday were in fact environmental consultants who were responding to the Bedford blast

Lt. Cody Burk, spokesperson for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, said there were ‘no survivors’ after the plane crash. The FAA is currently responding and investigating the cause of the incident.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was a twin propeller-engine Beech BE20, which was bound for Columbus International Airport in Ohio when it went down shortly after takeoff. 

A large plume of white smoke could be seen rising from the crash site, which was reportedly outside a 3M Co factory plant. 

It is currently unclear what caused the plane to crash that killed the five colleagues.

Steve Mullins, 46,  was killed as a result of the explosion at the Northeast Ohio business, which makes brass and bronze alloy. The five people on board the plane on Wednesday died while en route to investigating the blast that killed Mullins

Steve Mullins, 46,  was killed as a result of the explosion at the Northeast Ohio business, which makes brass and bronze alloy. The five people on board the plane on Wednesday died while en route to investigating the blast that killed Mullins 

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was a twin propeller engine Beech BE20. Aircraft pictured is not the plane involved in Wednesday's incident

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was a twin propeller engine Beech BE20. Aircraft pictured is not the plane involved in Wednesday’s incident

Authorities noted that the weather in the area had been severe, which was hampering their immediate investigations into the wreck. 

According to Arkansas Storm Team meteorologist Pat Walker, weather around the airport had seen significant wind gusts around the time of the crash. 

The National Weather Service said a line of thunderstorms had been moving through the area, including wind gusts of 40 miles per hour. The Pulaski Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating if weather was a factor in the incident.