(CNN) -- A Continental Airlines plane crashed in suburban Buffalo, New York, late Thursday with 44 passengers and four crew members aboard, according to authorities. All people aboard the plane were killed, New York State Police said. There's been one confirmed death on the ground.
Continental Airlines Flight 3407 crashed into a house in suburban Buffalo, New York, late Thursday.
Continental Airlines Flight 3407 crashed into a house in suburban Buffalo, New York, late Thursday.
Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, was en route from Newark, New Jersey, when it went down in Clarence Center, said Bill Peat with New York State Emergency Management in Albany.
The plane crashed about 10:20 p.m., hitting a home and bursting into a fireball, according to New York State Trooper John Manthey.
The crash took place about seven miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Video Watch video from CNN affiliate WGRZ »
Area resident Keith Burtis said he was driving to the store about a mile from the crash site when he heard the plane go down. "It was a high-pitched sound," Burtis said. "It felt like a mini-earthquake." Video Watch officials on the scene: 'This is not a rescue mission' »
Shortly after the crash, Burtis said he saw a steady stream of fire trucks rush by him as smoke billowed into the sky. Are you on the scene? Let us know at iReport
Other witnesses told CNN affiliate WGRZ they saw the plane nose-diving toward the ground.
Continental Airlines confirmed that the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 was operating between Newark Liberty International Airport and Buffalo.
The National Transportation Safety Board said early Friday that it was preparing a "go team" to head to Buffalo to investigate the crash. The aircraft has seating capacity of 74, officials said.
There was a wintry mix at the time of the crash, officials said. Witnesses told CNN the house that was hit was flattened.
Officials said relatives of passengers aboard the flight should call 1-800-621-3263 for information. In a news release, Colgan Air said an accident response team is being mobilized and will be devoted to cooperating with all authorities. Video Watch more on the plane crash »
At this time, officials said they are not concerned about a hazardous materials situation on the ground.
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