Plane crashes near Teterboro Airport — Two crew members dead

CARLSTADT — A small plane crashed near Teterboro Airport on Monday afternoon.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and FAA said the Lear Jet 35 was flying out of Philadelphia International Airport and was on approach to the airport's runway No. 1. Teterboro Airport was closed after the crash, according to the Port Authority. Update, 7 p.m.: The airport reopened later Monday evening for departing flights, but stayed closed indefinitely to incoming flights.

Carlstadt police said two members were killed, and were the only people on board. Multiple buildings were on fire Monday afternoon, according to several reports.

The FAA said the plane went down on Kero Road and Commerce Road about a half-mile from the runway.

Witness Paul Kisle told New Jersey 101.5 the plane "literally rolled upside down" before going down in an area near several warehouses. Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the area.

Town Spokesman Joe Orlando said one of the buildings affected was the Carlstadt Department of Public Works, whose workers had just left for the day, ABC Newscall reported.

"Thirty minutes before this plane crashed I was sitting in my car in the exact same spot," he said.

"There just pieces of the plane like all in the all throughout our yard. Melted cars that were parked here," he said.

Orlando told News 12 no one on the ground was injured. He described the area as "all industrial" with no residential housing.

According to Flightaware.com, the Lear Jet 35, registered N452DA, was scheduled to depart from Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m., but actually left at 3:04 p.m. Its last reported position was at 600 feet near Carlstadt, about a mile from Teterboro Airport.

"Weather conditions at the time of the accident were winds out of the north at 15 knots gusting to 32 knots, scattered clouds at 4,500 ft, 66 °F, and 10 miles visibility," the site said.

The plane, built in 1981, has has two Garrett TFE731 jet engines and is certified for 10 seats, Flightaware said. The registered owner is A&C Big Sky Aviation LLC of Billings, Montana.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.