Reno Plane Crash: Three Dead As Piper Cherokee Crashes Into Airport Parking Lot

reno nevada — Three people died after a Piper Cherokee plane crashed into a parking lot at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, but no one on the ground was injured. Pictured: Traffic passes beneath a welcoming sign in downtown Reno, Nevada, Feb. 3, 2012. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

A plane crashed in a parking lot of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport late Sunday, killing all three people on board.

According to airport spokesman Brian Kulpin, the three-seater Piper Cherokee plane took off at approximately 6:15 p.m. PT (9:15 p.m. EDT) from the airport’s west runway. After experiencing an unknown issue, the plane crashed into the airport’s surface parking lot.

The plane was headed to the San Carlos airport in the Bay Area, the Reno Gazette Journal reported Kulpin as saying.

The identities of the three victims of the crash have not been released.

Despite the crash, officials maintained that the airport was operating as usual, with no injuries on ground. However, at least 15 cars were damaged. The parking lot has been cordoned off — with about 75-100 cars — and owners do not have access to these until the investigation is complete.

The @RenoAirport is open and operational. Commercial flights are landing and taking off, despite a small GA aircraft accident.
— Reno-Tahoe Airport (@RenoAirport) September 12, 2016