In a devastating incident near Nashville, Tennessee, a small plane crashed, taking the lives of five Canadian citizens, including three children. The victims were aboard a flight that originated from Ontario, but their exact ages, names, and genders have not been revealed yet, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) air safety investigator Aaron McCarter.

The single-engine aircraft went down approximately 60 feet away from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40, close to the Nashville suburb of Charlotte Park, just before 8 p.m. on Monday. The tragic event occurred after the plane had circled over John C. Tune Airport at an altitude of 2,500 feet. McCarter explained that the aircraft briefly flew away before returning to the airport when it experienced a loss of power. The crash site was located about 3 miles from the airport.

The investigation into the incident is still in its early stages, and McCarter stated that the reasons behind the pilot's decision to overfly the airport at 2,500 feet are unknown at this time. He emphasized that further details would be uncovered in the days to come.

According to audio recordings from LiveATC.net, the pilot remained composed as he informed air traffic controllers about the emergency situation. "My engine shut down," he declared. Although Runway 2 at John C. Tune Airport had been cleared for the distressed aircraft, the pilot expressed doubt about being able to reach it, stating, "I'm going to be landing, I don't know where."

Controllers urged the pilot to continue his efforts to reach the airport, reassuring him that the runway was being cleared. Despite their encouragement, the pilot expressed uncertainty, saying, "I'm too far away, I won't make it."

The ill-fated plane had traveled from Ontario, making stops in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Mount Sterling, Kentucky, before the tragic crash occurred. Throughout the journey, the aircraft had maintained a cruising altitude of approximately 10,500 feet without any reported issues, McCarter confirmed.

The NTSB investigation is expected to uncover the possible cause of the crash, but it could take up to a year for the final report to be released to the public. As the aviation community mourns this heartbreaking loss, authorities are working diligently to determine the factors that contributed to this tragic incident.