Aircrafts collide in midair near Arizona airport; 2 reported dead
MARANA, Ariz. (NEXSTAR) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating a deadly aircraft collision near the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona.
Police in Marana first confirmed news of the deadly incident just before 12 p.m. MST on Wednesday. They had initially reported "at least" one fatality, but two people were later confirmed to be dead, the Associated Press reported.
"Details are limited at this time," the department said in a Facebook post.
Both the FAA and NTSB later confirmed a midair collision between the two small planes — a Lancair 360 MK and a Cessna 172 — at just after 8:25 a.m. There were two people in each plane, the FAA said.
Following the collision, the Cessna landed "uneventfully" at the airport, while the Lancair crashed near a runway, where "a post-impact fire ensued," the NTSB said.
The FAA further noted that Marana Regional Airport is considered an "uncontrolled field," meaning it does not have an air traffic control (ATC) tower. Rather, pilots flying in the field are responsible for communicating their positions to other aircraft operators.
Both agencies will be investigating the cause of the crash. The NTSB is also asking any witnesses to contact the agency at witness@ntsb.gov.
Marana Regional Airport did not immediately respond to Nexstar's request for comment.
There have been multiple major aviation disasters in North America in the last month, with the most recent involving a Delta jet that flipped on its roof while landing in Toronto and the deadly crash of a commuter plane in Alaska. In late January, 67 people aboard an American Airlines passenger were killed when an Army helicopter collided with it in Washington, D.C., marking the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001. Just a day later, a medical transport jet with a child patient, her mother, and four others aboard crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood on Jan. 31, exploding in a fireball that engulfed several homes. That crash killed seven people, including all those aboard and a person on the ground in a vehicle, and injured 19 others.
This is a developing story. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Topics
-
New restrictions on helicopters near DC following midair collision
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced changes to air space rules around Washington’s DCA airport following a preliminary report from the NTSB on the midair collision over the Potomac ...NBC News - 5h -
NTSB wants helicopter ban near D.C. area's Reagan Airport after deadly midair collision
The National Transportation Safety Board wants to severely restrict helicopter traffic near Ronald Reagan National Airport, officials said Tuesday, in the wake of a catastrophic midair collision ...NBC News - 9h -
NTSB urges helicopter ban near DCA after deadly midair crash
The NTSB is calling for a strict ban on helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport after a deadly midair collision killed 67 people. Chair Jennifer Homendy urged the FAA to act immediately, ...NBC News - 8h -
Safety board calls for helicopter ban on certain routes near DC airport: 'Intolerable risk'
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday issued two “urgent” safety recommendations after discovering thousands of close calls between helicopters and planes near Ronald Reagan ...The Hill - 8h -
NTSB calls for immediate changes at D.C. airport after deadly midair collision
Federal regulators say there's a "serious safety issue" in the airspace around Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. An investigation into the midair collision of a military helicopter and a ...CBS News - 4h -
Air Force intercepts aircraft flying in a restricted zone near Mar-a-Lago
Air Force fighter jets on Sunday intercepted a civilian aircraft flying in the temporarily restricted airspace near President Donald Trump’s Florida home, bringing the number of violations to more ...ABC News - 2d -
NTSB recommends changes after deadly D.C. midair collision
The NTSB issued its preliminary report on the midair collision between a passenger plane and helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January.CBS News - 8h -
Restrictions Ordered for Helicopters Near Reagan Airport After Plane Crash
The transportation secretary’s decision came after the National Transportation Safety Board cited a long history of near collisions between helicopters and airplanes near the nation’s capital.The New York Times - 5h -
U.S. fighter jets intercept planes flying near Mar-a-Lago yet again
Air Force fighter jets intercepted aircraft flying near Donald Trump's Florida home twice over the weekend.CBS News - 2d -
Fighter jets again intercept aircraft near Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate
The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the most recent incident occurred Sunday.The Hill - 1d
More from The Hill
-
Judge declines to block DOGE from taking over African development agency
A federal judge on Tuesday declined to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking over the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ...The Hill - 25m -
Lutnick says Trump tariffs 'worth it' even if they lead to recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday that President Trump’s tariff policies will be worth it, even if the economy ends up in a recession. In an interview that aired Tuesday, CBS News’s ...The Hill - 46m -
Democrat wins special election for Minnesota state House seat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate David Gottfried is projected to win a special election for a seat in the Minnesota House, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gottfried, a pro bono ...The Hill - 1h -
GOP Rep. Mark Harris says Trump has done 'tremendous job' making case against Education Department
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) said on Tuesday that President Trump successfully made the case against the Department of Education during his 2024 campaign, leading more Republicans to support the ...The Hill - 1h -
Sununu on possible Senate bid: 'I have not ruled it out completely'
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said he is considering running for Senate after previously rejecting the possibility. “I have not ruled it out completely, but folks in Washington have ...The Hill - 3h
More in Politics
-
Judge declines to block DOGE from taking over African development agency
A federal judge on Tuesday declined to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking over the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ...The Hill - 25m -
Lutnick says Trump tariffs 'worth it' even if they lead to recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday that President Trump’s tariff policies will be worth it, even if the economy ends up in a recession. In an interview that aired Tuesday, CBS News’s ...The Hill - 46m -
Democrat wins special election for Minnesota state House seat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate David Gottfried is projected to win a special election for a seat in the Minnesota House, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gottfried, a pro bono ...The Hill - 1h -
GOP Rep. Mark Harris says Trump has done 'tremendous job' making case against Education Department
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) said on Tuesday that President Trump successfully made the case against the Department of Education during his 2024 campaign, leading more Republicans to support the ...The Hill - 1h -
Sununu on possible Senate bid: 'I have not ruled it out completely'
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said he is considering running for Senate after previously rejecting the possibility. “I have not ruled it out completely, but folks in Washington have ...The Hill - 3h