2 confirmed dead after mid-air collision at U.S airport

Two people have reportedly died following a mid-air collision between two aircraft at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson, Arizona.

The Marana Police Department confirmed the crash, stating that both planes had occupants at the time of impact, as reported by Mirror.

Eyewitnesses described seeing thick smoke rising from the crash site as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Initially, officials reported one fatality, but a later update confirmed a second person had also died. The victims’ identities have not yet been disclosed.

In an official statement, the Marana Police Department said:

“The Marana Police Department is currently on-scene at the Marana Regional Airport located at 11700 W. Avra Valley Rd. in reference to an aircraft collision.
There has been at least one confirmed deceased individual. Details are limited at this time. Media staging will be in the large dirt parking lot outside of the Marana Regional Airport. FAA and NTSB will be responding.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. The FAA will assess safety and regulatory aspects, while the NTSB will focus on reconstructing the events leading to the crash.

This tragedy is the latest in a series of recent aviation accidents in the United States.

• Monday: A Delta Airlines flight in Toronto flipped upside down, causing fuel leakage and injuring 21 passengers. Nineteen have since been discharged from the hospital.
• Last month: American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, on January 29, killing 67 people and temporarily shutting down Ronald Reagan National Airport.
• Arizona, last Monday: A plane carrying Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil crashed at Scottsdale Airport, killing 78-year-old pilot Joie Vitosky and leaving Neil’s girlfriend, Rain Andreani, with severe injuries.
• Georgia, Saturday night: A small aircraft crashed into a wooded area after taking off from Covington Municipal Airport, killing both occupants.

Authorities, including the FAA and NTSB, continue to investigate these recent crashes, aiming to determine their causes and improve aviation safety.