Update: One passenger was killed in the plane crash near Chandler's airport shortly after takeoff on Tuesday night.
The specific cause of the crash remains unknown. The victim's identification has not been published.
Chandler police say the investigation will be led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with help from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Around 7:50 pm on July 28, crews responded to reports of a "downed aircraft" in the vicinity of McQueen and Queen Creek roads, close to the Chandler airport.
Initial report: A small plane crashed moments after taking off from Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona on Tuesday. Initial reports identified the aircraft as a Piper Cherokee, registration N9062J.
Videos shared online showed smoke rising near the crash site shortly after the aircraft went down.
The incident unfolded moments after the single-engine Piper Cherokee departed Chandler Municipal Airport, southeast of Phoenix. Multiple social media accounts shared footage from the scene.
Officials have not yet released information on casualties or the condition of those on board.
{{/usCountry}}Officials have not yet released information on casualties or the condition of those on board.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, aviation enthusiasts have shared air traffic control (ATC) audio that captured communications around the time of the crash.
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What do we know so far?
According to posts shared by Intel Point Alert and The New Area 51, the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Chandler Municipal Airport. A widely shared post stated, “Piper Cherokee N9062J just crashed on takeoff from the Chandler airport in Arizona. Reports of a small fire at this time.”
Television news helicopters arrived over the crash site shortly after the incident.
Reporter Mac Colson of Arizona's Family said the station's news helicopter was over Chandler Municipal Airport while awaiting confirmation from law enforcement and airport officials.
“Our @azfamily news chopper is on scene of a reported plane crash at the Chandler Municipal Airport. Waiting for details from police or airport officials,” she wrote on X.
Another Arizona's Family reporter, Stephanie Douglass, also posted aerial footage from the scene, writing that she was working to confirm details as emergency crews remained at the airport.
Images shared online showed first responders surrounding what appeared to be the wreckage of a small aircraft near the runway area. Officials had not yet identified the number of people aboard the aircraft.
Neither the Chandler Police Department nor airport authorities immediately issued detailed statements on the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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Investigation expected after crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to investigate the accident, as is standard procedure for civil aviation incidents involving aircraft damage or injuries. If the crash resulted in fatalities or substantial damage, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will likely lead the investigation with assistance from the FAA.
Investigators will examine several factors, including weather conditions, pilot communications, maintenance records, and flight data, to determine what caused the aircraft to go down shortly after takeoff.
The Piper Cherokee is a widely used single-engine aircraft popular for flight training and private aviation.