FAA: Small plane flying from Knoxville to Indiana crashes, 2 killed

It is unclear what type of plane is believed to have crashed and there is no report on injuries. A crew in a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter found the wreckage using infrared technology.

“We are all in shock and saddened, to say the least, with the news of the Gibbons’ tragic accident”, Bloomington High School South principal Mark Fletcher said in a statement.

“Our hearts are heavy today as we learned about the passing of our friend and coworker”, Lovejoy said Saturday in a statement from the company.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters said an investigation into what caused the Lancair COL4 to crash near Johnson City, Tennessee, Friday night is ongoing.

WJHL reports the aircraft crashed as it was flying from Knoxville, Tennessee to Bloomington, Indiana. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gibbons family.

The two were traveling from Knoxville to Bloomington.

When they arrived at the scene Saturday morning, authorities determined the crash to be on the Washington County side of the mountain.

Search crews combed Buffalo Mountain in Unicoi County on Saturday.

Authorities quickly set up a command post at the Town of Unicoi’s Visitor Center.

Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley confirmed to News Channel 11 that search crews have found a crashed plane.

Crews will returned to the area Saturday to continue search and recovery efforts.

Unicoi County EMA director Ed Herndon said the FAA told him flight controllers lost contact with a single engine 4-seater plane just northwest of the town of Unicoi, near the fire tower.

Jenkins Forensic Center team started heading up the mountain to photograph and process the scene, according to our NBC station in the area, WCYB.