HEARTBREAKING: 43 killed 17 injured as Plane 7EC, N4737E, transporting the South Carolina women basketball team crashed on the Capitol Center in Columbia…

In a catastrophic event that has plunged the state and the sports world into mourning, a charter flight carrying the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team crashed into the Capitol Center in downtown Columbia early this morning, leaving 43 dead and 17 others injured in one of the most tragic days in college sports history.

The plane, identified as a 7EC aircraft with tail number N4737E, was en route to Atlanta for the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight tournament when it suddenly lost altitude and veered off course around 6:42 a.m. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft sent out a distress signal moments before it collided with the upper floors of the Capitol Center, one of the tallest buildings in Columbia.

First responders rushed to the scene as plumes of smoke poured into the morning sky. Emergency teams spent hours pulling survivors from the rubble. Among the confirmed fatalities are players, coaching staff, team personnel, and flight crew. Several office workers inside the building were also injured.

Of the 17 injured, 6 are in critical condition, including Head Coach Amara Fields, who was reportedly found conscious but severely injured under debris. Assistant Coach Tori Lane was pronounced dead at the scene, along with several of the team’s starting players whose names are being withheld pending family notifications.

University President Dr. Michael Green held back tears during a press conference, saying:

“This is a loss beyond words. These young women were not just athletes—they were leaders, students, and daughters. Our entire community is grieving.”

Governor Henry McMaster has ordered flags lowered to half-staff and declared a week of mourning. NCAA officials have postponed all women’s tournament games indefinitely in response to the tragedy.

Eyewitnesses describe the crash as sudden and surreal.

“I looked up and saw the plane coming in way too low,” said Teresa Howard, an employee in a neighboring building. “It was quiet for a second, and then—boom. Everything shook.”

The NTSB is leading a full-scale investigation. Early speculation points to engine failure possibly caused by a fuel systems malfunction, though nothing has been confirmed.

A candlelight vigil is being organized at Colonial Life Arena tonight, where thousands are expected to gather to honor the lives lost. Social media has exploded with tributes under the hashtag #GamecocksStrong.

This is a developing story.