Alabama bus carrying high school students plunges into ravine killing at least one person

Students on board belonged to a high school band

Rescue crews work at the scene of a deadly charter bus crash in Loxley, Alabama (AP Photo/Dan Anderson)

At least one person has died after a charter bus carrying Texas high school students home from Disney World plunged into a ravine in Alabama.

The bus careened into a 50-foot ravine in the early morning hours after driving into a highway median, sending numerous people to the hospital.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack said at a news conference that about 45 people were on board and that the crash sent victims to approximately ten area hospitals.

A major highway was shut down as first responders engaged in what Mr Mack called an “all-out” response, with some of them rappelling into the ravine to reach the crumpled wreckage of the bus lying on its side. Multiple helicopters assisted.

“This has been an extensive rescue operation”, Mr Mack said.

Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida said in a statement on its website that it had taken in 20 victims, four of them with serious injuries.

Students on board the bus belonged to a Texas high school band, a Channelview Independent School District spokesman told multiple news outlets.

The company that operated the charter bus, First Class Tours, said in a statement that it was working with authorities.

“Our prayers are with the injured and their families at this time”, the company said.