Small plane crash near NJ airport kills pilot, both passengers after apparent aborted landing

Small plane crash near northern NJ airport kills 3

FAIRFIELD, N.J. — Authorities say a small airplane has crashed near an airport in northern New Jersey just after the pilot apparently aborted a landing, killing three people.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura says it appears the plane was descending for a landing at the Essex County Airport in Fairfield when the pilot pulled up just before 5:30 p.m. Monday. The plane crashed moments later about two blocks north of the airport on a grassy patch surrounded by warehouses.

Fontoura says there were no survivors.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker says the pilot and two passengers were on the plane, a Cirrus SR22.

The victims’ names haven’t been released.

Only the plane’s tail section remained intact after the crash and an intense fire.

Information from: The Star-Ledger, www.nj.com/starledger