GILA BEND, Ariz. — Authorities said one person is dead and another has critical injuries after a plane crashed near the runway at Gila Bend Municipal Airport on Tuesday morning.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, one occupant was pronounced dead at the scene and the second occupant of the plane was ejected during the crash and airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Officials later confirmed the identity of the dead man as 56-year-old Gabriel Draguicevich. Peter Stein, 60, was identified as the passenger and he is still currently in critical condition.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which investigates all plane crashes, said the plane crashed when it was departing the airport around 8:20 a.m. and the plane caught fire after crashing.
Authorities have not specified what type of plane it was.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation along with the FAA.
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