Two people killed as small planes collide at US airport

A mid-air collision involving small aircraft in the southwestern United States has resulted in at least two fatalities, authorities have confirmed. Currently, federal aviation safety investigators are launching an investigation into the incident, seeking to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.

According to federal aviation safety investigators, the accident occurred near the Marana Regional Airport outside of Tucson, Arizona, when two aircraft collided in mid-air, each carrying two people. The incident took place on Wednesday (Thursday, Australian Eastern Time), prompting a swift response from emergency services.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board stated that, based on preliminary information, one of the aircraft landed safely, while the other crashed near the runway and caught fire. Investigators have arrived at the scene to conduct further investigations. The Marana Police Department has confirmed that the accident resulted in two deaths, but has not provided further details, pending notification of next of kin.

Recently, similar accidents have occurred in Arizona. Last week, a private plane belonging to Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil veered off the runway in Scottsdale and collided with a business jet, resulting in the death of one of the pilots. Furthermore, North America has seen four major aviation accidents in the past month, including a Delta Air Lines aircraft overturning upon landing in Toronto and a fatal crash of a commuter plane in Alaska, raising concerns about aviation safety.

Late last month, an American Airlines passenger plane collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since 2001. Just one day later, on January 31, a medical transport plane carrying child patients, their mothers, and four others crashed near Philadelphia, with the resulting explosion and fire engulfing multiple homes, killing seven people, including everyone on board, and injuring 19 others.

Marana Airport has two intersecting runways but no air traffic control tower. A multi-million dollar tower construction project is underway, but construction has been delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of thousands of flights enter and exit the airport each year, highlighting the need for improved safety measures.