Midair Collision at Arizona Airport Claims Two Lives

TUCSON, Ariz. — At least two people are dead following a midair collision between two small aircraft at Marana Regional Airport on Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed.

The collision occurred just before 8:30 a.m. local time, involving a Lancair 360 MK II and a Cessna 172S, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Both planes were reported to have two occupants each.

The Marana Police Department stated that the airport, located about 21 miles northwest of Tucson, is classified as an uncontrolled field, meaning it lacks an operating air traffic control tower. Instead, pilots at such fields use a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to communicate their positions.

“Two confirmed dead and both planes were smaller fixed-wing single-engine planes,” stated a police representative. The identities of the victims have not yet been released as investigations are underway.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident. It is standard for pilots flying into uncontrolled fields to adhere to federal aviation regulations, which include maintaining minimum visibilities and safe altitudes, as well as following right-of-way rules.

This crash is part of a concerning trend, as it follows other significant aviation incidents in recent months, including a fatal crash on Jan. 31 that resulted in numerous casualties. The FAA has not released further details about the latest collision.

The authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact them. The investigation is ongoing and updates will be provided as new information becomes available.