Cargo plane owned by Milwaukee-based company crashes in West Virginia, 2 killed

CHARLESTON, W.Va -- A cargo plane involved in a deadly crash in West Virginia Friday morning is owned by a Milwaukee-based company. Air Cargo Carriers confirmed one of its planes crashed at Yeager Airport in Charleston, killing two people on board.

Terri Peterson, the human resources director for Air Cargo Carriers, confirmed the two deceased are employees of the company. Peterson said both were based in West Virginia. Peterson says the president of the company, Steve Altnau, is flying out to the crash site to meet with investigators.

WSAZ-TV in Huntington, W.V. reports the plane went off the runway while trying to land around 7 a.m. Friday. According to that local report, the pilot and co-pilot – a man and a woman whose names have yet to be released – were killed in the crash.

Peterson said the company is contracted by UPS and DHL to fly in overnight deliveries. Local reports state the plane that crashed Friday was contracted by UPS and took off from Louisville around 5:40 a.m. Friday.

Initially, there were reports of four people on board but that number has since been changed to two. WSAZ reports authorities on scene said the plan came in “too hot” sideways before hitting the runway, rolling, and going down a hill.

Peterson said Air Cargo Carriers is in contact with the NTSB and the FAA.