A tragic midair collision occurred Wednesday morning (February 19) at Marana Regional Airport, located about 21 miles northwest of Tucson, Arizona. The Marana Police Department confirmed that at least two people have died as a result of the incident, which involved two fixed-wing single-engine planes.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172S collided just before 8:30 a.m. local time. Officials did not say what caused the midair collision.
The FAA noted that Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field, which means that it does not have an air traffic control tower. Without air traffic controllers, it is the responsibility of the pilots to communicate their location and intention to take off and land to other pilots in the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is assisting the FAA in the investigation.
This incident follows a series of recent aircraft crashes, including a fiery crash landing at a Toronto airport and a fatal air ambulance crash in Philadelphia on January 31. The aviation community is on high alert as these incidents raise concerns about air travel safety.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities urge the public to stay tuned for further updates. The cause of the collision and the identities of those involved have not yet been disclosed.