MARANA, AZ — Two people are dead after two planes collided mid-air Wednesday morning at an airport in southern Arizona.
The crash occurred at Marana Regional Airport, outside Tucson.
Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration tell ABC15 a Lancair, with two people on board, collided mid-air with a Cessna 172, with two others on board, at around 8:30 Wednesday morning.
According to a statement from the Town of Marana, both people inside the Lancair died and the two in the Cessna were uninjured.
Viewer-submitted photos show smoke in the direction of the airport.
Breaking: We are getting reports of a small plane crash at Marana regional airport. We have a crew on the way and are working to confirm more details.
— Blake Phillips (@BlakePhillipsTV) February 19, 2025
These photos were taken near the airport by Justine Brent. @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/UHu7aFBQUj
Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field, according to the FAA.
The airplane is temporarily closed as the investigation continues.
WHAT IS AN UNCONTROLLED FIELD?
An uncontrolled field is described by the FAA as an airport that does not have an operating ATC control tower.
Pilots use a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to announce their position to other pilots who are in the airport vicinity. The pilot-in-command is responsible for maintaining safe operation from other aircraft. Pilots in these fields are required to comply with all FAA regulations, including minimum visibilities, minimum safe altitudes, and right-of-way rules.
RELATED: Air traffic control tower project at Marana Regional Airport set new deadline after delay
Marana Airport superintendent Galen Beem issued the following statement:
“On behalf of the Town of Marana and the Marana Regional Airport, our hearts go out to all the individuals and families impacted by this event. This is an unprecedented event, and we are grateful for the swift response from the Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating.
AeroGraurd, a flight training center, released the following statement regarding the crash:
"We are aware of the mid-air collision involving two of our pilots and a separate plane over the Tucson, AZ area. Our pilots were not injured.
We are deeply saddened by the two fatalities from this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
The safety and wellbeing of our pilots, crews and communities are our foremost priority. AeroGuard operates with the highest level of safety and operational standards to provide our students and partners with a best-in-class aviation program. While we can’t comment on any further specifics of this situation at this time, we are working closely with local authorities and safety officials to investigate this incident further."
Earlier this month, a pilot was killed and four others were injured in an aircraft crash on a runway at the Scottsdale Airport.
This is a developing story. Stay with ABC15 and ABC15.com for the latest developments.
