2 dead, buildings burn after small plane crashes in Texas

Two people were killed and buildings caught fire when a small plane crashed in Odessa, Texas, on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Witnesses said they saw the plane struggling to gain altitude after taking off from Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airport, according to Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis and a post on the city of Odessa's Facebook page.

The plane hit power lines and then crashed “mostly in the alley,” Griffis said at a press conference.

The Cessna Citation business jet crashed at around 7:40 a.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Nearby commercial buildings and several trailers caught fire. In photos from the city, a store called Dewey's is badly damaged.

The two people killed were on the plane.

“It is obvious that the pilot was trying to avoid the houses,” Griffis said, adding, “It is a sad day in Odessa.”

The airport said it would not release any information about the plane or comment on the crash.

Odessa Fire Chief Jason Cotton said the fire was under control.

A woman was rescued from her burning mobile home, Cotton said. Her condition was unknown and she was taken to the hospital.

The cause of the crash is unclear. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

The Red Cross will set up emergency accommodation for all victims of the crash, the sheriff said.

This is a developing story, please check back later for updates.