Plane crash kills 2 at Marana airport, second fatal since 2025 | News

MARANA, Ariz. (KVOA) – Two people are dead following a passenger plane crash Wednesday evening at Marana Regional Airport.

The plane reportedly went off the runway, crashed and burst into flames. The Marana Police Department said the two people who died in the crash had not yet been identified as of around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Marana police and the Northwest Fire District responded to the crash and fire. This comes after two people lost their lives in a midair collision at this same airport in February of 2025.

“All of us are sad about this and for it to happen again is very tragic for us,” Alvarez said. “And our hearts are with the families of those who are involved and our prayers are with them.”

Alvarez said Marana police received a call of a downed aircraft crash around 5:12 p.m. While Marana police took on the initial investigation, it will be handed over to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The plane that crashed is registered to a Tucson LLC, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Vic Hathaway, the spokesperson for the Town of Marana, said because the cause of the crash is unknown, it’s unclear if an air traffic control tower would have prevented this. She did explain where the crash occurred.

“The long runway here at the Marana Regional Airport is currently under construction, so this incident took place on the cross wind, the shorter runway,” Hathaway said.

She also stressed the importance of safety.

“This is a tragic event that happened here at the Town of Marana,” Hathaway told News 4 Tucson. “Our hearts go out to those that are impacted, and we remain committed to the safety of those who use the facility, both through this investigation and our continued efforts through the tower that will be constructed next year.”

While it’s unknown if an air traffic control tower would have helped in this crash, one is being built beginning next year. Hathaway said the airport will remain closed until further notice, and the NTSB will resume the investigation Thursday.