April 15, 2002 – Two people died Monday afternoon when a twin-engine airplane that had taken off from St. Croix crashed into a car dealership about two miles south of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan.
The pilot and one person on the ground were killed, and one passenger and another person on the ground were injured, according to Puerto Rican police. They did not have the names of those killed or injured.
The Mitsubishi turboprop plane was operated by Crucian International Airline, which has its office at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, San Juan police Col. Magin Ruisanchez said.
The plane crashed in the Carolina district of San Juan at about 3:07 p.m., officials at the Federal Aviation Administration regional office in Atlanta said.
The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the crash and will conduct an investigation, an NTSB official said. Ruisanchez said the probem is expected to begin Tuesday.
The plane was registered to Maxfly Aviation Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to FAA documents. Officials of Maxfly, an aircraft sales company, were in contact with Crucian International officials to learn more about what happened, a person who answered the telephone at Maxfly Monday afternoon said.
Officials at Crucian International said Monday afternoon that they did not have any details as to what happened.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.