7 killed in US plane crash

A small plane crashed in the US state of Alabama after one of its engines failed, killing all seven people onboard, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday.

The pilot of the Cessna C421 tried landing at an airport in Demopolis after it lost its right engine Saturday night, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker said in an email. The plane — which was flying from St. Louis to Destin, Florida — crashed in a wooded area within two miles (three kilometers) of the airport.

Marengo County Coroner Stuart Eatmon told Montgomery television station WAKA that the people killed were a mother, father and their five children who ranged in age from 2 to 10. Their names hadn't been released.

Searchers found the plane around 2:17 a.m. Sunday. Authorities said the crash site was accessible only by all-terrain vehicles.

FAA records show that the plane was built in 1978. It's registered to Advanced Integrated Technology Solutions LLC in Niceville, Florida. A message left seeking comment from the company wasn't immediately returned.

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