Arizona Plane Crash: Two Aircraft Collide Midair, Resulting in Two Confirmed Deaths – Details

4A midair incident over Marana Regional Airport (MRA) in Arizona has drawn federal investigators, with initial details released. It is the state's latest aviation accident, following an earlier fatal crash in Scottsdale.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a collision happened around 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, involving a Lancair and a Cessna 172 flying in uncontrolled airspace over Pima County. Officials confirmed that two persons died at the scene.

The FAA also reported that the "Marana Regional Airport is an uncontrolled field," meaning there is no control tower to manage takeoffs and landings.

Officers from the Marana Police Department (MPD) responded to the crash near 11700 W. Avra Valley Road shortly after the incident. In an initial statement on Facebook, the department reported, "There has been at least 1 confirmed deceased individual. Details are limited at this time," later updating the figure to two confirmed deaths.

MPD shared both aircraft were single-engine, fixed-wing planes carrying two people each. In an official statement, Airport Superintendent Galen Beem expressed condolences, "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."

The airport superintendent described the crash as an "unprecedented event" and thanked Marana Police and Northwest Fire District for their quick response. Neither aircraft was based at MRA, which remains temporarily closed.

Local news outlet KGUN 9 verified the incident after speaking with airport personnel. The station later shared video footage on X (formerly Twitter), showing the aftermath and confirming the two fatalities.

AmoMama readers reacted with shock and concern. "Unbelievable!!" one reader wrote, while another commented, "Omg that's crazy🙏🏻." A third wondered, "Where are the Air Traffic Controllers??"

Learning about the collision, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, who frequently uses the MRA, shared his reaction on X (formerly Twitter) and offered support to those affected. He said his team was following the situation.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations, with the NTSB taking the lead. The collision occurred after reports revealed delays in constructing a new air traffic control tower at MRA.

According to KGUN 9, the airport's control tower was originally set for completion by late 2024. At the time, Greg Sendlak, Project Manager for Public Works, Capital Improvement Division, said, "We were already 18 months behind."

He added, "So now we're in the middle of our environmental assessment. We still have to complete it, then the design, construct. There's no way that we're going to make a deadline of Dec. of this year, of 2024."

The project faced further setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying completion to 2029. The control tower remains a priority due to the airport's complex traffic. "There's more activity out here than meets the eye," Sendlak noted, stressing the need for improved coordination.

Initially, the airport reportedly joined the FAA's Federal Contract Tower Program in December 2019, with a five-year window to finish studies and construction. After delays stalled progress, officials reapplied in March 2024, securing another five-year extension.

With reapproval, momentum picked up. "Our sighting study is complete, our environmental assessment will be complete next year and we'll be able to start design," Sendlak said, referring to 2025.

The project's estimated cost is $17-18 million, with 91.06% federally funded, 4.47% covered by the State Transportation Aviation Division, and the remainder by the town.

The Marana Regional Airport collision wasn't an isolated incident — just weeks earlier, another fatal crash occurred at Scottsdale Airport, also in Arizona.

According to the FAA, a Learjet 35A veered off the runway and crashed into a parked Gulfstream 200 business jet at Scottsdale Airport on Monday afternoon, February 10.

As reported by Fox 10 Phoenix, Scottsdale Fire Captain Dave Folio confirmed that five people were involved. One person died, two were critically injured and taken to a trauma center, another sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and one individual declined medical treatment.

The FAA reported the crash occurred around 2:45 p.m., prompting a temporary suspension of flights at the airport. At 2:50 p.m., the airport posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating the accident happened upon arrival at runway 21.

Officials confirmed that the parked Gulfstream 200 was on private property when it was struck. Emergency crews, including firefighters, police, and FAA investigators, responded to the scene.

Spokesperson Kelli Kuester explained the likely cause of the crash, "It appears that the left main gear failed upon landing resulting in the accident." As a result, the runway remains closed, according to Scottsdale Airport's official X page.

Questions have also emerged about the jet's ownership. Worrick Robinson, a representative for Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil, told CNN that Neil owned the jet that collided with the other aircraft but was not onboard.

According to TMZ, the plane is registered to Chromed in Hollywood, a company linked to the rockstar.

While Neil was not traveling, his girlfriend, Rain, and her friend, Ashley, were on board. Both were rushed to the hospital, with Rain suffering five broken ribs. The dogs traveling with them survived the impact.

Mötley Crüe manager Allen Kovac confirmed that Neil was safe and has expressed his condolences for the victims' families while grateful Rain and Ashley are safe. He added that the band is considering ways to support those affected by the tragedy.

Meanwhile, the airport management has released a statement on X, acknowledging the incident. "Our thoughts are with everyone that has been impacted by this tragic event," the statement read.

The tragic accident comes amid a string of recent aviation disasters, including a midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people and a medical plane that crashed in Philadelphia and left seven dead.

Additionally, a small plane that went missing over Alaska's Bering Sea was later reported to have also crashed. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, carrying 10 people, was found after an extensive search near Nome.