Abdelrahman
Tragic Midair Collision Claims Lives in Southern Arizona
On Wednesday morning, two individuals lost their lives when their small aircraft collided midair near Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona, according to official reports.
The incident involved a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II, both of which were carrying two occupants at the time of the crash, which occurred just before 8:30 a.m. near Marana Regional Airport. As confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), after the collision, the Lancair crashed close to a runway and subsequently ignited, while the Cessna managed an "uneventful" landing.
Tragically, both people aboard the Lancair were pronounced dead, whereas the occupants of the Cessna escaped without injury, as reported by Vic Hathaway, the town’s communications manager. The identities of the deceased have not been disclosed, but Hathaway indicated they were not local residents.
Marana Airport is classified as an "uncontrolled field," which means it lacks a functioning air traffic control tower. Pilots are expected to communicate their positions to one another using a common traffic advisory frequency.
According to Ms. Hathaway, the town of Marana participated in a five-year Federal Aviation Administration program aimed at establishing an air traffic control tower by the end of 2024. However, construction has been postponed due to the pandemic, with a new completion target set for the end of 2029. Hathaway emphasized that the demand for a control tower is growing due to the rapid expansion of the area, noting that Marana Airport also serves to alleviate congestion from Tucson International Airport, located approximately 30 miles southeast.
The NTSB is currently conducting an investigation into the midair collision, which follows a series of recent aviation incidents. In late January, a U.S. Army helicopter tragically collided with an American Airlines jet in Washington, resulting in the deaths of 67 individuals. More recently, a Delta Air Lines jet flipped over on the tarmac while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, though all passengers and crew members onboard were unharmed.
In a related incident last week in Arizona, a small plane owned by Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil veered off the runway at Scottsdale Airport, colliding with a stationary jet, causing the death of the pilot and injuring three others.
