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Two people died after a small plane veered off the runway and burst into flames at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona on Wednesday (April 8), according to local officials. The incident happened around 5:12 p.m., with police and fire crews responding quickly to the scene.
Marana Mayor Jon Post confirmed that the aircraft, a Piper PA-32, crashed and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of both people onboard. Their identities have not yet been released as of early Thursday, and no other injuries or aircraft were involved, according to a statement from the Marana Police Department. The Northwest Fire District reported that the fire was brought under control soon after arrival.
The crash occurred while the airport’s main runway was under construction, so the incident took place on a shorter crosswind runway, according to Vic Hathaway, spokesperson for the Town of Marana. Hathaway stated, "This is a tragic event that happened here at the Town of Marana. Our hearts go out to those that are impacted, and we remain committed to the safety of those who use the facility, both through this investigation and our continued efforts through the tower that will be constructed next year."
The airport does not currently have an air traffic control tower, but plans are in place to build one starting next year. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and officials noted it is unclear whether a control tower would have made a difference. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the aircraft was registered to a Tucson-based LLC, according to Tucson.com.
This marks the second fatal crash at Marana Regional Airport in just over a year.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, and the airport will remain closed until further notice.