Plane carrying 21 people to Astros game in Boston crashes in Houston area

Plane crashed near Houston Executive Airport in Brookshire; all people were evacuated safely

BROOKSHIRE, Texas – Waller County Judge Trey Duhon said a plane that crashed near Houston on Tuesday morning was chartered to Boston for Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, KPRC, KSAT’s sister station in Houston, said. The Houston Astros are scheduled to play against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park later Tuesday.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-87 rolled through a fence and caught fire in a field while attempting to depart from Houston Executive Airport in Brookshire near Katy, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

All 21 people aboard -- 18 passengers and three crew members -- were evacuated safely. Officials said one person sustained minor injuries.

“Anytime you have plane that doesn’t make a landing on the runway like its supposed to, we’re always expecting the worst and hoping for the best and today, we absolutely, positively got the best outcome we could hope for,” said Tim Gibson, Emergency Service District Director for Waller-Harris Emergency Service District 200.

The plane appears to be owned by a company in Spring, KPRC reported. The manufacturing certificate for the plane was issued in 2015. The McDonnell Douglas MD-87 plane has a 172-seat capacity and a twin-engine jet.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash. The FAA will assist in the investigation.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.