A hangar under construction collapsed on the grounds of an airport in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring nine others, authorities said.
The city said in a statement Wednesday night that five of those injured in the collapse were in critical condition.
Boise Fire Department Operations Director Aaron Hamel said the Boise Fire Department responded to a private company about a steel hangar collapse at the Boise Airport around 5 p.m.
He said everyone at the scene was found safe as of Wednesday evening.
“It was a very chaotic scene,” Hummel said, describing the incident as a “massive collapse” of the building’s skeleton.
“I don’t know what caused it, but I can tell you it was a pretty global collapse,” he said, calling it “catastrophic.”
Boise airport operations were not affected, officials said.
Tera Furman was driving on Interstate 84 around 5:30 p.m. when she spotted at least 20 police cars, ambulances and fire engines about a quarter-mile from the airport entrance.
As she described them, they were located around a crane that was folded in half and a collapsed building in the shape of an “M”.
“The wall was still up in some parts, and the middle was collapsing on either side,” she said.
Hummel said some of the victims were on hoists or other high ground when the structure collapsed, necessitating professional rescue efforts.
It was confirmed that the crane also collapsed in this accident.
Leticia Ramirez, spokeswoman for St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, said emergency and trauma teams worked with first responders to treat patients arriving from the scene.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.
It happened next door to the Jackson Jet Center, which provides private plane charter and maintenance.
According to City of Boise permit records, contractor Big D Builders had a permit to build a 39,000-square-foot jet hangar for the Jackson Jet Center.
The $6.2 million project would include construction of a concrete foundation and metal building.
Messages left by phone and email seeking comment with Big D Builders were not immediately returned.
Jackson Jet Center CEO Jessica Flynn said in a statement emailed to news outlets that her “heart goes out to everyone affected by this horrific event.” .
Flynn said the collapse occurred on the site of a hangar under construction for the company, just west of the existing Jackson Jet Center, and that dozens of people were working at the site.
“We don’t know exactly what caused the hangar collapse,” Flynn said. “Our current focus is on supporting our teams and partners during this difficult time.”
James Quintana was driving to the airport when he saw emergency vehicles passing in front of him.
He said he immediately thought it was a plane crash. He then saw the collapsed hangar and emergency workers treating the victims.
“I’m a former law enforcement guy, and when there’s that much commotion and that many emergency personnel and vehicles, something big is going on,” he said. “It was a terrifying sight.”
Cody McGowan said he was working about 100 yards from the building when he heard what sounded like a dog barking.
When he looked up, he saw a three-and-a-half to four-story hangar collapsed, with part of a crane on top of it.
“When I walked in there, you were just like, ‘Wow,'” he said. “It’s shocking to see the building collapse.”
