2 Die When Plane Crashes Into Medical Office

WATSONVILLE (CBS / AP) — Two people were killed when a small plane crashed into a medical office building in Watsonville Thursday evening, according to an FAA spokesman and a Watsonville Community Hospital spokeswoman.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said a single-engine plane crashed into an office building at the hospital shortly after takeoff from nearby Watsonville Municipal Airport around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Lunsford said there were no injuries or fatalities on the ground.

Lunsford said the aircraft was registered in Santa Cruz.

The hospital campus is adjacent to the Watsonville Municipal Airport. Hospital spokeswoman Cindy Weigelt said that the Watsonville Community Hospital building is separate from the medical office building and was not affected by the crash.

Witnesses say the plane took a nose dive and landed partially into the first floor of the building.

A dispatcher with the Watsonville Fire Department said no evacuations have been ordered from the hospital.

Weigelt said that the fire department responded immediately and extinguished a fire related to the crash.

All areas of the hospital remain operational, including the emergency room, according to Weigelt, and she said that the hospital was continuing to focus on the care of its patients.

All hospital patients, employees and visitors are safe, Weigelt said.