Two killed in plane crash at Van Nuys Airport; one runway closed
Two people were killed Wednesday morning after a small plane crashed and burst into flames at Van Nuys Airport, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Fire crews responded to the scene at 10:37 a.m. and doused the fire. Firefighters discovered both people aboard the plane had died, LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange said.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a single-engine CSA SportCruiser.
The popularity of private jets among the 1% has made Van Nuys Airport a critical hub. It’s bathing the surrounding communities in noise and fumes.
The incident caused the closure of one of two runways at Van Nuys Airport, according to airport officials. The main runway, which is not near the crash site, remains open.
The accident was west of the Waterman Drive and Woodley Avenue intersection, the LAFD said.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash, along with the FAA, officials said. A preliminary crash report is expected to be posted within the next day, according to FAA officials.
An NTSB investigator is expected to be at the scene Thursday morning, according to spokesperson Jennifer Gabris. The wreckage will be recovered that afternoon, Gabris said.
Six people were killed early Saturday when their plane crashed near the French Valley Airport in Riverside County, the second deadly crash in the area in the last four days.
Wednesday’s crash marks at least the eighth fatal air accident over the last three days nationally, according to FAA statistics.
The identities of the victims were not immediately known.
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