KEARNEY, Neb. — Authorities have confirmed that two people died after a small aircraft crashed northeast of Kearney on Thursday morning, following an overnight search.
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According to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, the wreckage was located around 10:07 a.m. with the help of drone technology provided by the Kearney Police Department. Both occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first raised alarms late Wednesday after the plane, which had been en route to Kearney Regional Airport, failed to arrive. Investigators said contact with the aircraft was lost around 9:30 p.m., with its last recorded location a few miles north of the airport.
The discovery followed an extensive search effort involving multiple agencies, including the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Good Samaritan Hospital, and regional law enforcement partners.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the Buffalo County Attorney’s Office, have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash. The names of the victims have not yet been released pending notification of family.