Officials: Pilot, co-pilot likely killed in small cargo jet crash near airport outside Chicago

Officials: 2 likely dead in Ill. small plane crash

WHEELING, Ill. — A small cargo jet crashed into a river in a forest preserve Tuesday shortly after being cleared to land at a suburban Chicago airport, and officials said it appeared the two people aboard were killed.

A preliminary investigation indicated a pilot and co-pilot were aboard the jet that crashed into the Des Plaines River in unincorporated Glenview as it was making its final approach about 1:30 p.m. to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, said Glenview Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Fancher. He said emergency crews were on the scene, including divers.

The Federal Aviation Administration, at the scene of the crumpled wreckage, said it was unclear what caused the crash, noting the jet had just been cleared for visual approach to the airport.

The Learjet Model 35 left Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Mich., about 1 p.m. Tuesday, said J. David Vanderveen, who oversees the county’s three airports. Oakland County International Airport is about 25 miles northwest of Detroit.

Vanderveen said the jet was empty of cargo, but was to pick up freight at the Wheeling airport, located about 15 miles northwest of Chicago.

“There was a pilot and a co-pilot,” Vanderveen said. “Both were commercially rated, which means they were professional pilots.”

The jet was registered to the Waterford-based Royal Air Freight, according to the FAA. A woman who answered the phone at the company declined to comment on the crash.