Local News
5 dead after small plane crashes into vehicles near Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa police reported a tragic plane crash that occurred Tuesday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Falcon Field Airport.
A single-engine aircraft went down, striking a vehicle on Greenfield Road in Mesa, Arizona.
Authorities confirmed that five people lost their lives in the crash, with two of the victims identified as Spencer Lindahl and Rustin Randall.
Two of the victims in the crash were a father and his young son from Chandler. Tragically, this family also lost another son, a minor, in December of last year. Their family originally had four children; now, only the mother, a daughter, and one son remain.
Following the incident, several road closures were put in place: northbound Greenfield Road is closed at Brown Road, while the southbound lane is closed at McDowell Road.
McKellips Road is also closed eastbound at Val Vista Drive and westbound at Higley Road.
Police are advising motorists to avoid the area to allow emergency responders and investigative teams to work safely.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation, coordinating efforts with multiple local and federal agencies to determine the cause of the crash.
An aviation incident involving a United Airlines aircraft was reported Tuesday at Washington Dulles International Airport, prompting an emergency response and temporary operational disruptions.
According to preliminary information, United Airlines Flight 803 (UA803), a Boeing 777 scheduled to operate from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), experienced an engine malfunction during takeoff.
Reports indicate the incident involved an engine blowout or engine fire shortly after departure, which led to debris and heat igniting multiple brush fires near the runway.
Airport fire and rescue units, along with multiple supporting fire departments, were immediately dispatched to the airfield.
Fire crews worked to extinguish brush fires reported near Runway 1C, while airport operations focused on securing the affected areas and maintaining safety.
Following the engine issue, the aircraft entered a holding pattern to dump fuel in accordance with safety procedures before making an emergency return to Dulles.
Smoke was visible near the runway area as firefighters addressed the ground fires. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
The aircraft later landed safely at Dulles International Airport.
Emergency personnel remained on scene following the landing to ensure the situation was fully stabilized.
Some unconfirmed information circulating indicates that the same aircraft may have experienced an engine-related issue earlier this year, on June 21, 2025.
Officials have not verified this information, and no connection has been established between that reported incident and Tuesday’s event.
The Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines, and airport officials are expected to conduct a full investigation to determine the cause of the engine malfunction and the resulting brush fires.
This remains an active investigation, and additional verified details will be released as they become available.