Three Americans Die in China Plane Crash

Shanghai, CHINAThree Americans are dead and a fourth injured in the fiery crash of a cargo plane in China early this morning. According to the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, the plane was on its' way to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan when it veered off the runway on takeoff and burst into flames. The plane crash is currently under investigation.

Officials at the US Embassy confirmed the deaths. No names have thus far been released and the condition of the injured American is not known.

China Central Television was reporting overnight that the tail of the aircraft struck the ground on takeoff. The force of the strike caused the plane to veer off the runway and crash, bursting into flames. Television footage showed thick, black smoke billowing from the wreckage following the plane crash, which occurred just after 8am in Shanghai, which translates to 6pm Eastern Standard Time.

Avient Aviation, an enterprise based in Zimbabwe, operated the plane. There was no information as to what might have been on the plane, in terms of cargo, when it crashed— beyond the full complement of seven crew members that hailed from the US, Indonesia and other unnamed countries.

The crash occurred at Pudong, Shanghai's main international airport. As a result of the air accident more than 30 international flights were delayed during the morning of November 28th, leaving about 4,000 travelers stranded on planes or in airport lounges. Two runways were closed in the aftermath of the crash to facilitate the investigation.

The four surviving crewmembers were injured, three of them seriously and one critically.

Pudong Airport is located on the eastern edge of the city of Shanghai, adjacent to the East China Sea.

Shanghai television showed what it called a 61-year-old American co-pilot in a hospital bed, conscious and saying ''Thank you'' to staff and officials