Five killed in US air ambulance crash

ALPINE, Texas - An air ambulance has crashed shortly after takeoff from a West Texas airport, killing all five people aboard.

The crash happened about 12:15 a.m. Sunday about a mile east of Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport, about 200 miles (300 kilometres) southeast of El Paso, Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration says the twin-engine Cessna 421 had just taken off for Midland International Airport in Midland, Texas, when it went down in an open area.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says the pilot was apparently trying to make an emergency landing when the plane hit a rut, overturned and burned.

The FAA lists the aircraft as registered to O'Hara Flying Service II LP of Amarillo. Company owner Denny O'Hara declined to comment to The Associated Press.

- AP