At Least 18 Injured as Plane Crashes at Seattle Airport

A Horizon Air commuter plane carrying 40 people caught fire in flight and crashed into the main terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport late Friday, injuring at least 18, authorities said.

The twin-engine De Havilland 8 had taken off from the airport at 6:45 p.m. and returned almost immediately with a wing on fire, said Marlys St. Laurent, a spokeswoman for the Port of Seattle, which operates the airport.

Eighteen people were taken by ambulance to hospitals, and others were taken by bus for observation, said Tina Mankowski, a Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman.

There was no immediate indication that any of the injuries were critical, hospital officials said.

No one on the ground was hurt, said airport Police Chief Ed Ingram. The flight gates where the aircraft hit were empty at the time. Ingram said the plane substantially damaged gates at one concourse.

A Horizon reservations agent who did not give her name said the plane was Flight 2658 bound for Spokane. She referred further inquiries to airline officials who did not answer the telephone at the company offices.