Girl, 7, survives fatal plane crash in Kentucky

A 7-year-old girl has walked to a home in Kentucky to report that her plane had crashed, police say.

The plane was found later with the pilot and three other passengers dead.

The girl was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Associated Press quoted the Federal Aviation Administration as saying air traffic controllers had lost contact with the Piper PA-34 after the pilot reported engine problems.

About 30 minutes after the plane lost contact, a resident of Lyon County called police to say the girl had walked to his home to report the crash.

Sgt. Dean Patterson of the Kentucky state police told Associated Press: “This girl came out of the wreckage herself and found the closest residence and reported the plane crash. It’s a miracle in a sense that she survived it, but it’s tragic that four others didn’t.”

He said the plane had been heading for Illinois from Florida and had crashed in a wooded area near a lake.

The girl’s relationship with those on the plane was not immediately known.