In videos shot by people in passing vehicles, smoke could be seen above the interstate, rising from the scattered, blazing debris.
Massachusetts State Police said they were alerted to the crash at about 8:15 a.m. The plane, a Socata TBM-700 turboprop, crashed into the median of I-195 near Exit 19, igniting a fire that sent plumes of black smoke into the air and forced the full closure of the highway for hours.
The Massachusetts State Police said in a statement it was not aware of any survivors on the plane, which it said may have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport. Officials said it does not appear the pilot provided the airport with a flight plan or passenger details.
Two people aboard the plane were pronounced dead at the scene, and one person on the ground was injured and transported by car to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford.
A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the agency is investigating the crash, noting that the Socata had departed from New Bedford Regional Airport. No information about the people on board is being made public pending notification of family, according to authorities.
He said that the National Transportation Safety Board will be responsible for investigating the incident to determine its cause, with officials at the New Bedford Regional Airport supporting the investigation.
“I appreciate the swift and skillful response by New Bedford’s emergency responders, as well as the Massachusetts State Police and other state and municipal officials. I am grateful that the crash miraculously did not result in serious injuries to motorists on Interstate 195,” said the mayor.
Firefighters and hazardous materials teams worked for hours to extinguish the flames and contain the spilled fuel before reopening the lanes.
At the time of the crash, a nor’easter was sweeping across southern New England, with winds reaching 30 to 40 mph and heavy rain reducing visibility, according to the National Weather Service.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected to take over the investigation, said it could not respond to inquiries because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB and state officials.