Horror in the skies: Small plane crash kills 5 in US

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said in a statement on his official Facebook page that the aircraft involved was a Cessna 421C.

“Authorities have confirmed that all five occupants lost their lives as a result of the incident,” Becerra said.

According to reports, the crash occurred near Wimberley, Texas, a town of about 3,000 people located roughly 15 miles west of San Marcos, Texas.

“Preliminary information indicates the aircraft was travelling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact,” Becerra added, noting that initial findings do not suggest a mid-air collision.

He also said a second aircraft flying in the vicinity landed safely in New Braunfels, Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released. “The names of the victims will not be disclosed until tomorrow morning, as officials work to notify next of kin and verify all details,” Becerra said in a separate post on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Peter Knudson told the San Antonio Express-News that the aircraft caught fire after the crash.

“After the wreckage is documented at the crash site, it will be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation,” he said in a written statement quoted by the newspaper.