Tragedy in the Skies: Four D*ad After Small Plane Crashes in Rural Illinois

TRILLA, Ill. (AP) — A devastating small-plane crash in rural central Illinois claimed the lives of four people on Friday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit communities of Coles County.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine Cessna 180 struck power lines and crashed just before 2 p.m. near the village of Trilla, about 120 miles northeast of St. Louis.

The aircraft went down in a field adjacent to a county road, erupting into flames upon impact.

Authorities confirmed that all four individuals aboard the plane were killed. Their identities have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.