Deaths As Two Planes Collide Midair At US’ California Airport

Multiple people have died after two small planes collided midair in Watsonville, California, on Thursday, according to officials.

The crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m. local time at the Watsonville Municipal Airport in Watsonville, an agricultural area located about 50 miles south of San Jose, ABC News reports.

The two planes were attempting to land when they collided, the city of Watsonville said on social media.

“We have reports of multiple fatalities, an official said.

A single-engine Cessna 152 and a twin-engine Cessna 340 “collided while the pilots were on their final approaches,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Three people were on board the planes — one in the Cessna 152 and two in the Cessna 340 — the agency said, though it did not provide an update on their conditions. No injuries were reported to anyone on the ground, it said.

The city later tweeted it was “absolutely saddened to hear about the tragic incident that took the lives of several people.”

“The City of Watsonville sends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who passed,” it added.

“We are grieving tonight from this unexpected and sudden loss,” Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker said. “I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences.”

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said it responded to an aircraft collision on Aviation Way near the airport and secured the scene with the Watsonville Police Department.

“This afternoon, two planes collided and came to rest at and near the Watsonville airport. There are multiple fatalities right now,” Lt. Patrick Dimick said. “There are multiple fatalities. We cannot confirm anything else at this time as we’ve just secured the airport for the NTSB and FAA to arrive and conduct their investigation.”

An investigation is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA.

Watsonville Police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) are among the agencies assisting with the investigation, according to CBS affiliate KION46 and ABC News.

“We have responded to an aircraft collision in the area of the Watsonville Municipal Airport on Aviation Way. We have the scene secured with the help of Watsonville PD,” the SCSO wrote in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon.

Watsonville Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

“We are absolutely saddened to hear about the tragic incident that took the lives of several people. The City of Watsonville sends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who passed,” read another tweet from the City of Watsonville.

“We are grieving tonight from this unexpected and sudden loss,” said City of Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker. “I want to express my deepest and most heartfelt condolences.”