Crew of Crashed Plane Struggled With Controls

The crew of a commuter plane fought to control the aircraft in a turbulent thunderstorm moments before it crashed, killing 13 people, officials said Thursday night.

Francis Fernandes, the pilot at the controls of Flight 508, said the plane experienced a “significant roll to the left” on landing approach, said Susan Coughlin, National Transportation Safety Board vice chairwoman.

Fernandes told investigators that while he and the co-pilot tried to straighten the craft, it experienced an “extreme updraft” that pushed the plane’s nose into the air, Coughlin said.

“Both of them struggled to control the aircraft and were unsuccessful,” she said.