Two people were killed when a single-engine airplane crashed and caught fire Thursday at Southern California’s Santa Monica Airport, authorities said.
The crash happened on the runway shortly before 5 p.m., according to Sgt. Adam Gwartz with the Santa Monica Police Department.
“There was a fire,” Gwartz said. “The plane did not hit any structures.”
TV news footage showed the charred wreckage of an aircraft on the tarmac with multiple fire trucks at the scene.
The single runway of the airport is situated within residential areas in the over 90,000-person Pacific Ocean metropolis. Many locals and city officials support shutting the airport due to noise and safety issues.