Two people have died after two small aircraft collided mid-air above Arizona’s Marana Regional Airport on Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed.
The crash involved a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172S, which collided upwind of Runway 12 around 8:25AM local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While the Cessna managed to land safely, the Lancair crashed near Runway 3 and burst into flames upon impact, per CBS News.
The Marana Police Department responded to the scene and confirmed that both passengers on board the Lancair were killed. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Investigation Underway at Uncontrolled Airfield
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash and has sent an investigator to examine the wreckage before it is transported to a secure facility.
“NTSB is investigating a mid-air collision between a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II near the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona, on Feb. 19 at 8:28 a.m. local time,” the agency said in a statement, per The Telegraph.
Preliminary reports suggest that the aircraft collided while upwind of the runway, leading to the deadly impact.
Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled airfield, meaning it does not have an operating air traffic control tower. Pilots are responsible for coordinating takeoffs and landings using a common traffic advisory frequency to announce their positions and maintain safe separation.
Despite the lack of air traffic controllers, pilots must still follow federal aviation regulations, including maintaining minimum safe altitudes and following right-of-way rules to avoid collisions.
Aviation Industry Raises Safety Concerns Amid Recent Crashes
The Arizona crash is the latest in a series of recent aviation disasters across North America. In just the past month:
- A Delta Air Lines jet flipped onto its roof while landing in Toronto, injuring 18 people.
- A U.S. Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet, killing 67 people in the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001.
- An air ambulance crash in Philadelphia killed all passengers, including a child who had recently undergone life-saving surgery.
- A single-engine plane crashed in western Alaska, killing 10 people.
In response to growing safety concerns, U.S. aviation leaders have called for emergency funding to hire more air traffic controllers and modernize aging equipment. According to industry groups representing major airlines and aircraft manufacturers, the country is currently short by at least 3,500 air traffic controllers.
Adding to concerns, President Donald Trump’s administration recently laid off approximately 400 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, including aviation safety assistants and maintenance mechanics. Critics argue that these cuts could further endanger American air passengers.
However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, appointed by Trump last month, dismissed concerns, stating that “no critical safety personnel or air traffic controllers were sacked.”
As the investigation into the Arizona collision continues, authorities will examine whether pilot communication, aircraft visibility, or other contributing factors played a role in the crash.
While mid-air collisions remain rare, aviation experts stress that safety concerns at uncontrolled airfields must be taken seriously, particularly amid a rising number of fatal accidents in recent weeks.
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