Mid-Air Collision Claims Two Lives at Arizona Regional Airport
Marana, Arizona – Wednesday, March 11, 2020:
At approximately 8:25 a.m. local time, two small planes collided midair at the Marana Regional Airport, killing at least two people.
Aircraft Involved:
The aircraft involved in the collision were identified as a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II, both single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft.
Fatalities and Injuries:
Authorities confirmed that two individuals aboard one of the aircraft perished in the collision. The other two occupants of the same aircraft were unharmed. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Airport Operations:
Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field, which means it lacks an active air traffic control tower. Pilots are therefore responsible for announcing their positions and maintaining safe distances from other aircraft in the vicinity.
Investigation Underway:
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are jointly investigating the incident. The NTSB has assumed the lead role in the investigation.
Recent Air Travel Accidents:
The collision is the latest in a concerning trend of recent air travel accidents in North America:
- Monday, March 9, 2020: A Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crashed and overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport. No fatalities were reported, but 21 passengers sustained injuries.
- Saturday, February 8, 2020: A small commuter plane crashed en route to Nome, Alaska, killing the pilot and nine passengers.
- Friday, January 31, 2020: A medical transport jet carrying a child patient, her mother, and four others crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, igniting a massive fire.
Government Response:
Following the mid-air collision at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport in January, the Trump administration pledged to conduct a thorough review and update of air traffic control systems across the country.
Social Media Outreach:
U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) expressed his condolences on Twitter:
"I fly out of this airport often, including just a few days ago. My thoughts are with everyone involved and their families. My team and I are tracking this incident as we await more information."
Safety Concerns:
The recent spate of air travel accidents has raised concerns about the safety of air transportation in North America. The NTSB and FAA are tasked with investigating these incidents and implementing measures to improve safety.
Additional Information:
Further details regarding the accident, including the victims’ identities and the circumstances surrounding the collision, are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
