Usually eyewitness reports are inaccurate. Can't tell altitude of plane. Usually too far away to see what's happening. Official sources usually too slow, wait for investigation. Find out how many people were on the plane, and what happened to them.
Most crashes occur during landing and takeoff.
Most near airports. Almost none while cruising at 30,000 feet at 600 mph. Most deaths from impact and fire. Sometimes enough warning to dump fuel. Almost all mechanical failure or human error.