Three Israelis Killed in Small Plane Crash in Maryland

Three Israeli citizens were killed on Sunday when a light aircraft crashed in the U.S. state of Maryland. The plane, a Piper PA-28, had taken off from New Jersey, apparently from a flight school, and U.S. authorities believe only the pilot and two passengers were aboard. No survivors were reported.

American media said the aircraft went down in Prince George’s County, where emergency crews found the three people dead at the scene. Authorities in the United States have opened an investigation into the crash, and the cause is still unknown. Maryland State Police said officers and aviation accident investigators are working at the site, while federal authorities are collecting evidence to determine what happened.

Searches for the wreckage continued until about 3:45 a.m. local time, when the remains of the plane were found in a wooded area behind a residential neighborhood. Reports said the debris was spread across about 30 meters.

The crash came on the same day that two other Israelis, both about 40 years old, were killed in a single-car accident in the Malibu area of Los Angeles. Following the Maryland crash, ZAKA’s international unit began working with local U.S. authorities and the victims’ families, assisting with identification, documentation and other required arrangements.