2 killed in plane crash at Long Island airport: police

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (PIX11) – Two people were killed when a small plane crashed at an airport on Long Island Monday evening, police said.

The plane crash happened at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma around 6:15 p.m., according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

An employee of the airport saw the plane take off in a southwest direction before returning to the runway and crashing, according to Kevin Beyrer, a detective lieutenant with the Suffolk County Police Department.

Two men in the plane died in the crash, Beyrer said. Authorities were working to identify the victims.

The cause of the plane crash is under investigation.

“We can’t speculate on why they returned to the runway. According to the witness, they did get airborne but for some reason attempted a quick return to the runway,” Beyrer said.

Beyrer said the Federal Aviation Administration is at the scene, and the National Transportation Safety Board will also be responding.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here .

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