Apr 3, 2001 - 12:45 AM

Jet Crashes Into Dairy Building in Wisconsin The Associated Press

ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (AP) - A business jet with one person aboard crashed into a milk bottling plant, setting off an explosion and fire that injured seven workers, officials said. The pilot was believed to have been killed in the crash Monday. The fire delayed crews from getting to the plane's wreckage in the center of the building.

"There doesn't appear to be any survivors," said Lt. Jim Skorczewski of the Ashwaubenon public safety department.

Three of the plant workers were hospitalized with critical burns, said hospital spokesman Jim Reck. The other four were treated and released for lacerations, smoke inhalation or other minor injuries, Reck said.

The pilot reported problems soon after taking off from Austin Straubel International Airport in a snow shower, en route to Ft. Myers, Fla., authorities said.

The plane, described as a Citation 501, crashed within minutes into the Morning Glory Dairy at an industrial park in Ashwaubenon, a Green Bay suburb.

"The pilot reported he had difficulty and was going to return to the airport, and that's the last word they had from him," said Don Hoeft, director of the airport.

The crash triggered an explosion and ammonia leak at the plant, which employs about 150, Skorczewski said.

"I heard just a big explosion," said Bill Stascak, who works at a nearby business. "When I came out there were pieces flying high into the air."

Among the 35 to 40 people working in the dairy when the plane crashed was human resources manager Tim Decker, who was at his desk.

"When that plane hit, it threw me right over my desk," he said. "The fire alarms went off immediately, and everybody was evacuated within seconds."

The accident happened during a shift change, he said. "That is the only thing that saved us from having any fatalities."

AP-ES-04-03-01 0045EDT © Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

Answers

Once again milk reveals itself as a combustible substance. Remember the milk truck that rammed the state building in California and burst into flames? I gotta stop drinking that stuff!

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001

The jet was leased to the Keebler elves, of Chips Ahoy! fame....

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2001