(Updated 7 p.m.) A Seattle pilot visiting colleges with his 17-year-old son missed the Tweed airport runway and crashed into two homes, leaving two mourning families in the wake of a fatal flight.
The disaster struck at 11:22 a.m. on Friday, when a private plane plowed into two homes at 64 and 68 Charter Oak Ave. in East Haven, just north of Tweed New Haven Airport. The airport reopened late Friday after temporarily closing due to the crash investigation.
The disaster struck two families, according to East Haven Mayor Joe Maturo: The pilot’s family and the family that lived at 64 Charter Oak.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, the official death count was three: The pilot died, as did two kids, ages 1 and 13, who were home at the time of the crash, according to Branford Fire Chief Jack Ahern. The pilot has been identified by family as Bill Henningsgaard of Seattle, a former vice president of Microsoft. He was traveling with his son, Max.
The crash sent New Haven safety officials scrambling to help their neighbors.
The East Haven fire department responded to the scene at 11:22 a.m. and found two houses up in flames with a downed airplane between them, according to East Haven Fire Chief Doug Jackson.
