Local News
3 dead after a small plane crashes into a residential area in Oregon
A tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning when a small plane crashed into a residential area near the Troutdale Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of three people, including the two occupants of the aircraft.
The twin-engine Cessna 421C, which was carrying two individuals, went down around 10:30 a.m. in the Fairview neighborhood, located approximately 11 miles east of Portland. The plane struck a set of power transmission lines before crashing into a row of townhomes, setting multiple units on fire.
Gresham fire officials have confirmed that at least three people lost their lives in the plane crash that occurred on Saturday morning. While they cannot provide specific details about the identities of the victims, it is believed that the two occupants of the plane and at least one townhome resident perished in the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration previously reported that there were two individuals on board the aircraft. Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis has stated that one townhome resident is currently unaccounted for. In addition to the fatalities, multiple injuries have been reported. Both Chief Lewis and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy John Plock have confirmed the presence of injuries, but the exact number of injured people and the severity of their injuries remain unknown at this time.
The plane crash in Troutdale left a significant debris field, according to Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy John Plock. The crash site was divided into two main areas, as some parts of the plane apparently broke off after it struck the power equipment.
The incident occurred near a power transmission line, and footage from the scene shows that multiple wires were knocked off one of the transmission towers. Some of these wires landed in a nearby field, igniting a brush fire. However, the fire was contained and did not spread significantly.
The damage to the power lines resulted in a widespread power outage. Portland General Electric confirmed that approximately 9,000 customers in the Fairview area were affected by the outage. By 3 p.m., PGE reported that power had been restored to all impacted customers.
The high temperatures on the day of the crash made it difficult for firefighters to battle the blaze, and the extensive structural damage to the building limited their ability to work from the inside. As a result, they primarily focused on dousing the flames from outside using a ladder truck.
The cause of the fire is not yet determined, but investigators believe that fuel from the plane may have been a contributing factor.
The fire caused significant damage to the building, displacing at least five families. Fire crews are still assessing the condition of one unit, and there is a possibility that a sixth family may also be displaced.
Volunteers from the Trauma Intervention Program were on-site to assist the displaced residents, and the Red Cross secured temporary housing for all affected families for Saturday night.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Two investigators have been dispatched to the scene to document the wreckage and collect evidence. The wreckage will then be transported to a secure facility for further examination.
Anyone with information about the crash, including surveillance footage or other relevant details, is encouraged to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov. The NTSB will not be commenting on the cause of the accident during the on-site investigation. Local authorities will be responsible for releasing information about the victims and their injuries.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.