A small plane that left from Columbia Metropolitan Airport crashed in Oconee County Ga. (near Athens) killing at least three people.

The Piper PA-46 aircraft was headed to Tuscaloosa, Ala. It went down at around 3:45 p.m., said a spokesman for the Oconee County (Ga.) Sheriff’s Office in a press conference broadcast on Facebook: Click here

“The plane crash involves multiple fatalities,” was a post from the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office also said rescue efforts were hampered by fire at the crash site.