Recently in the United States, there have been frequent reports of small airplane crashes. Just within a span of two days, from Friday (April 18) to Saturday (April 19), two fatal air accidents occurred consecutively in Nebraska and Illinois, resulting in the deaths of 7 people. These incidents have sparked high levels of concern in various sectors regarding the safety of small aircraft.
According to reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local media, on Friday evening local time, a small plane flying over the Platte River south of Fremont, Nebraska suddenly lost control and crashed into the river, claiming the lives of all three people on board.
The victims included a man from Kansas and two residents of Nebraska, all aged between 40 and 50, who were amateur aviation enthusiasts. Following the incident, local police, fire, and rescue departments mobilized drones and watercraft to assist in the search for bodies and wreckage. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations, with the cause of the accident still being determined.
The next morning (April 19) around 10 a.m., another small plane crashed near Trilla, Illinois, claiming the lives of all four people on board. It was reported that the plane likely collided with power lines before crashing into a field and catching fire.
The four victims, two men and two women, have not yet been publicly identified, as authorities are in the process of confirming their identities and notifying their families. The FAA and NTSB have also dispatched personnel to investigate the cause of the accident.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker expressed condolences on social media and stated that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.
These two air accidents are not isolated incidents. In recent weeks, there have been multiple similar small aircraft accidents across the United States, highlighting the potential risks that exist in terms of the stability and safety of these aircraft during operation.
Last month, a single-engine plane crashed into a residential area in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, resulting in the death of the sole passenger on board and causing a fire. On April 10, a sightseeing helicopter crashed over the Hudson River in New York City, killing the pilot and a family of five. The next day, another small plane crashed in Boca Raton, Florida, claiming the lives of all 3 people on board. On April 12, a private plane crashed in Columbia County, New York, resulting in the deaths of all 6 people on board.