Latest news with #GalenBeem
USA Today
20-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
Small planes crash in midair over Arizona airport, killing 2: What we know
Small planes crash in midair over Arizona airport, killing 2: What we know The crash, which occurred at the Marana Regional Airport, about 21 miles northwest of Tucson, is the second fatal aviation mishap this month in Arizona. Show Caption Hide Caption Small plane crash in Arizona At least two people are dead following a mid-air crash at an airport in Arizona. This comes just over a week since the last deadly plane crash in the state. Fox - 7 Austin Two people were killed Wednesday morning when two small airplanes crashed in midair at a regional airport in southern Arizona – the latest in a series of North American aviation disasters in recent weeks. The crash, which occurred at the Marana Regional Airport, about 21 miles northwest of Tucson, is also the second fatal aviation mishap this month in Arizona. Details about the victims and the circumstances that preceded the crash remained slim Thursday morning, nearly 24 hours later. Here's everything to know so far: Plane crashes 2025: How many have plane crashes have there been in 2025? How many people have died? What were the airplanes involved in the crash? The crash involved two fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft, Vincent Rizzi, a Marana Police Department sergeant, told the Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication. One of the airplanes has been identified as a Cessna 172S and the other as a Lancair 360 MK II. What caused the crash? The collision occurred around 8:30 a.m. over a runway at the Marana Regional Airport. While the Cessna landed safely, the Lancair crashed near another runway, sparking a fire that sent plumes of smoke into the air, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a written statement to the Republic. Marana Airport Superintendent Galen Beem described the crash as "an unprecedented event" in a statement. 'On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event,' Beem said in a written statement shared in a news release from the Marana police. The airport remained closed as of Wednesday afternoon, police said in the latest post on social media. What do we know about the victims? Two people were on board each aircraft, the Marana town government posted on Facebook. Rizzi told the Republic that the two aboard the Cessna that landed safely were not severely injured, meaning both those on the Lancair were killed in the crash. Authorities had not publicly identified any of the victims in the crash as of Thursday morning. What is the Marana Regional Airport? The Marana Regional Airport, which is mostly used for leisure flights, is located in a rural area surrounded by farm fields and desert brush. The airport is also home to two flight schools. The two aircraft involved in the fatal crash were not among the 259 aircraft based at the airport, Vic Hathaway, communications manager for the town of Marana, told the Republic. Federal agencies to investigate crash The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on social media site X it was investigating the crash. Marana officials indicated Wednesday that further information would come from the NTSB. The FAA released a statement to USA TODAY confirming details about the crash. USA TODAY left a message Thursday morning with the NTSB seeking further information. Marana Regional Airport has no air traffic controllers The regional airport is what's known as an "uncontrolled field," meaning it does not have an air traffic control tower, according to the FAA. At uncontrolled airports, pilots use a common traffic advisory frequency to regularly announce their position to other pilots who are in the airport vicinity, the agency said. Pilots operating in uncontrolled fields also must still comply with all FAA regulations, including maintaining visibility and safe altitudes. While a crewed tower was supposed to be in place by the end of 2024 to accommodate an increase in traffic and improve safety, its construction was delayed, Hathaway told the Republic. That delay was mostly related to supply chain issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, she added. Crash is latest aviation disaster of 2025 Although experts have said air travel remains extremely safe, the crash is at least the sixth major aviation disaster of 2025 in North America, USA TODAY reported. That includes a high-profile deadly crash in Washington DC on Jan. 29 in which a military Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair with an American Airlines regional jet, killing 67 people near Ronald Reagan National Airport. It was the first fatal crash of a U.S. airliner in nearly 16 years. Just days after the crash near Washington, D.C., a medical jet carrying a child patient crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood. Seven people died, including all six on board the aircraft and another in a car on the ground. The Arizona crash also comes days after 18 people were injured when a Delta Airlines regional jet crash landed upside down Monday in Toronto. Another 10 people were killed earlier this month when a small plane crashed in Alaska after experiencing a rapid loss of altitude and speed. The aircraft, heading from the village of Unalakleet to the town of Nome, was initially reported missing before it was later recovered. 1 killed in earlier plane crash in Arizona The crash is also the second fatal aviation incident this month in Arizona after one person was killed Feb. 10 when two private jets collided on a runway at Scottsdale Airport. Another four people were injured when a Learjet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil veered off the runway and hit a parked Gulfstream jet at the small municipal airport, officials said. While the investigation revealed that it appeared the plane's landing gear had failed, no official cause of the crash had been announced. Neil was not among the two passengers and two pilots on board the Learjet during the crash. One person was aboard the other Gulfstream jet. Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Small planes crash in midair over Arizona airport, killing 2: What we know
Two people were killed Wednesday morning when two small airplanes crashed in midair at a regional airport in southern Arizona – the latest in a series of North American aviation disasters in recent weeks. The crash, which occurred at the Marana Regional Airport, about 21 miles northwest of Tucson, is also the second fatal aviation mishap this month in Arizona. Details about the victims and the circumstances that preceded the crash remained slim Thursday morning, nearly 24 hours later. Here's everything to know so far: Plane crashes 2025: How many have plane crashes have there been in 2025? How many people have died? The crash involved two fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft, Vincent Rizzi, a Marana Police Department sergeant, told the Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication. One of the airplanes has been identified as a Cessna 172S and the other as a Lancair 360 MK II. The collision occurred around 8:30 a.m. over a runway at the Marana Regional Airport. While the Cessna landed safely, the Lancair crashed near another runway, sparking a fire that sent plumes of smoke into the air, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a written statement to the Republic. Marana Airport Superintendent Galen Beem described the crash as "an unprecedented event" in a statement. 'On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event,' Beem said in a written statement shared in a news release from the Marana police. The airport remained closed as of Wednesday afternoon, police said in the latest post on social media. Two people were on board each aircraft, the Marana town government posted on Facebook. Rizzi told the Republic that the two aboard the Cessna that landed safely were not severely injured, meaning both those on the Lancair were killed in the crash. Authorities had not publicly identified any of the victims in the crash as of Thursday morning. The Marana Regional Airport, which is mostly used for leisure flights, is located in a rural area surrounded by farm fields and desert brush. The airport is also home to two flight schools. The two aircraft involved in the fatal crash were not among the 259 aircraft based at the airport, Vic Hathaway, communications manager for the town of Marana, told the Republic. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on social media site X it was investigating the crash. Marana officials indicated Wednesday that further information would come from the NTSB. The FAA released a statement to USA TODAY confirming details about the crash. USA TODAY left a message Thursday morning with the NTSB seeking further information. The regional airport is what's known as an "uncontrolled field," meaning it does not have an air traffic control tower, according to the FAA. At uncontrolled airports, pilots use a common traffic advisory frequency to regularly announce their position to other pilots who are in the airport vicinity, the agency said. Pilots operating in uncontrolled fields also must still comply with all FAA regulations, including maintaining visibility and safe altitudes. While a crewed tower was supposed to be in place by the end of 2024 to accommodate an increase in traffic and improve safety, its construction was delayed, Hathaway told the Republic. That delay was mostly related to supply chain issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, she added. Although experts have said air travel remains extremely safe, the crash is at least the sixth major aviation disaster of 2025 in North America, USA TODAY reported. That includes a high-profile deadly crash in Washington DC on Jan. 29 in which a military Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair with an American Airlines regional jet, killing 67 people near Ronald Reagan National Airport. It was the first fatal crash of a U.S. airliner in nearly 16 years. Just days after the crash near Washington, D.C., a medical jet carrying a child patient crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood. Seven people died, including all six on board the aircraft and another in a car on the ground. The Arizona crash also comes days after 18 people were injured when a Delta Airlines regional jet crash landed upside down Monday in Toronto. Another 10 people were killed earlier this month when a small plane crashed in Alaska after experiencing a rapid loss of altitude and speed. The aircraft, heading from the village of Unalakleet to the town of Nome, was initially reported missing before it was later recovered. The crash is also the second fatal aviation incident this month in Arizona after one person was killed Feb. 10 when two private jets collided on a runway at Scottsdale Airport. Another four people were injured when a Learjet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil veered off the runway and hit a parked Gulfstream jet at the small municipal airport, officials said. While the investigation revealed that it appeared the plane's landing gear had failed, no official cause of the crash had been announced. Neil was not among the two passengers and two pilots on board the Learjet during the crash. One person was aboard the other Gulfstream jet. Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 killed in Arizona after planes collide in midair: What we know
Times of Oman
20-02-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
US: Two people killed after two small aircraft collided in midair collision at Arizona airport
Arizona: As many as two people were killed after two small aircraft collided in midair at an Arizona airport on Wednesday, CNN reported, citing authorities. A Cessna 172S and Lancair 360 MK II collided near the Marana Regional Airport at 8:28 am (local time), as per the preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board. One of two runways at the airport said that the fixed-wing single-engine planes "collided while upwind of runway 12." The NTSB said the Cessna landed "uneventfully" and the Lancair affected terrain near the other runway and "a post-impact fire ensured." The Marana Police Department said two people have died due to the incident. In a news release, the Town of Marana announced that two people were on each plane, CNN reported. However, it did not mention their conditions. It said that the airport has been shut while the investigation is being conducted. Airport Superintendent Galen Beem said, "On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event." Beem said, "This is an unprecedented event, and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District." The Federal Aviation Administration said the airport was an "uncontrolled field," which does not have an operating air traffic control tower. Pilots often use a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to announce their position to other pilots who are near the airport. Pilots operating in uncontrolled fields still need to follow all federal aviation regulations. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on Thursday morning (local time) to document the scene and analyse the aircraft, according to CNN report. In addition, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also responding to the incident. The incident comes after several aviation incidents which started with midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, which claimed the lives of 67 people due to a collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines regional. Since then, four other aviation incidents have highlighted concerns regarding air safety, including the crash of a medevac plane in Philadelphia, an aircraft that crashed near Alaska's Nome, killing 10 people; a private plane that ran off the runway in Arizona's Scottsdale, killing the pilot on board; and a Delta Air Lines regional jet rolled over on the runway after arrival in Toronto. Despite the aviation incidents in the past month, January's preliminary data from the NTSB shows there was a low number of flight incidents among private and commercial aircraft across the nation. However, small aircrafts are statistically more likely to face incidents, CNN reported. The aircraft are not as heavily regulated as those functioning under Part 121 rules, the set of FAA rules followed by major air carriers. Private and general aviation aircraft comply different, less strict FAA rules, however, they are still inspected and maintained. (ANI)
CBS News
20-02-2025
- General
- CBS News
Arizona plane crash kills 2 in midair collision at Marana Airport
At least two people have died after two small planes crashed midair Wednesday in Arizona, officials said. The collision occurred at 8:25 a.m. local time at the Marana Regional Airport in Arizona, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday. The two planes that collided were both smaller fixed-wing single-engine planes, one a Lancair and the other a Cessna. Each plane was carrying two passengers and the two who died were on the same aircraft, according to a spokesperson for the town of Marana. The other two people were uninjured. The two aircrafts collided while "upwind of runway 12," the National Transportation Safety Board said. The Cessna did not successfully land and the Lancair "impacted terrain near runway 3 and a post-impact fire ensued." Neither aircraft was based out of Marana Regional Airport, officials said. "On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event," Marana Regional Airport Superintendent Galen Beem said in a statement. "This is an unprecedented event, and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District." The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident with the NTSB leading the investigation. The Marana Regional Airport is temporarily closed as the investigation continues. The Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field, meaning it does not have an operating air traffic control tower and pilots utilize a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to announce their position to other pilots who are in the vicinity. The airport is located about 21 miles northwest of Tucson. The collision Wednesday follows a string of several other aircraft crashes including a Delta Air Lines plane that flipped upside down while landing Monday in Toronto, a fatal medical jet crash in Philadelphia on Jan. 31 and the midair collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial airplane in Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.
CNN
20-02-2025
- General
- CNN
2 dead after 2 small planes collide midair in Arizona, officials say
Two people are dead after two small aircraft collided in midair at an Arizona airport Wednesday, authorities said. A Cessna 172S and Lancair 360 MK II collided at 8:28 a.m. near the Marana Regional Airport, just northwest of Tucson, according to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board. The fixed-wing single-engine planes 'collided while upwind of runway 12,' one of two runways at the airport. The Cessna landed 'uneventfully' and the Lancair impacted terrain near the other runway and 'a post-impact fire ensured,' the NTSB said. The Marana Police Department confirmed two deaths from the incident. Two people were on each plane, the Town of Marana said in a news release, without sharing their conditions. The airport is closed while the investigation is ongoing, it said. 'On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event,' airport Superintendent Galen Beem said. 'This is an unprecedented event, and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District.' The Federal Aviation Administration called the airport an 'uncontrolled field,' which does not have an operating air traffic control tower. Pilots often will use a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to announce their position to other pilots who are in the airport vicinity. Pilots operating in uncontrolled fields are still required to comply with all federal aviation regulations. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive Thursday morning to document the scene and examine the aircraft. The FAA is also responding. The incident follows a recent string of aviation incidents beginning with the January 29 midair collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which killed 67 people when a military helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided. Since then, four other aviation incidents have drawn attention to air safety, including the crash of a medevac plane in Philadelphia; a plane that crashed near Nome, Alaska, killing 10 people; a private plane that ran off the runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, killing the pilot on board; and more recently, a Delta Air Lines regional jet that rolled over on the runway on arrival in Toronto. Even with the past month of aviation incidents, January's preliminary data from the NTSB shows there was a record low number of airplane accidents nationwide among private and commercial flights. Before the January 29 collision, the last major fatal airplane accident involving a US carrier was in 2009, involving a flight operated by Colgan Air. However, smaller planes are statistically more likely to experience incidents. The aircraft are not as heavily regulated as those operating under Part 121 rules, the set of FAA rules followed by major air carriers. Private and general aviation aircraft follow different, less strict FAA rules but are still inspected and maintained. There's also just a larger number of the smaller planes. The National Air and Space Museum estimates there are more than 340,000 general aviation aircraft around the world and US pilots operate 204,000 of them. This is a developing story and will be updated.
