DAYTONA BEACH -- Volusia County officials have now confirmed that a small twin-engine plane that crashed this morning at Daytona Beach International Airport resulted in one fatality and one critically injured person. The plane did not catch fire.
"Non-commercial flights at DBIA are being restricted until further notice," said Vickie Pleus, county spokeswoman. "Commercial flights are not being delayed or canceled at this time; the airport remains open."
According to airport officials, an Arrow Commander Model 500twin-engine aircraft took off Monday morning from runway 7-R, which stretches 3,200 feet. fireAt approximately 8:42 a.m., the aircraft called the DBIA tower and reported possible engine trouble. The plane attempted to loop back around toward the airport’s main runway at 25-R, which is 10,500 feet. The plane crashed approximately 200 feet from the main runway. The aircraft was non-commercial and not affiliated to a training center.
Fire units from DBIA, the Daytona Beach Fire Department and Volusia County Fire Services responded to the crash. EVAC Ambulance and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.
The person injured, a 45-year old man, was transported by EVAC Ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center. The identification of the person pronounced dead at the scene has not been released, pending notification of the next of kin, Pleus said.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct a death investigation, which is routine in plane fatalities. The cause of the crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.