2 killed after small plane crashes during takeoff at MacArthur Airport on Long Island
Two people were killed in a small plane crash at Long Island’s MacArthur Airport Monday evening, according to authorities.
The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 was taking off at the airport in Ronkonkoma when it crashed down near the end of Runway 6 at around 6:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration and a spokesperson for the airport.
The aircraft was damaged and Airport Fire Rescue responded to aid the two people onboard, the spokesperson said.
But the pilot and his single passenger both died in the wreck, according to Suffolk County police.
The two victims, whose identities are being withheld pending family notification, were pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported, police said.
The runway where the plane went down will remain closed while the investigation continues.
The small white plane appeared to be ripped apart near the front nose of the craft and landed in a grassy area, according to photos of the wreck.
Officials gathered around the plane, which had a yellow sheet draped across its front.
Travelers should check with the airlines they are flying for possible delays and cancellations, the MacArthur Airport representative said.
One traveler said on X that she had to deplane the Frontier flight she was on because it was set to take off from Runway 6.
Suffolk County Police homicide squad, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash and its cause.
