Las Cruces International Airport to remain closed following plane crash
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Las Cruces International Airport will remain closed "until further guidance is provided from the FAA and NTSB," Airport Director Andrew Hume said in a statement released Monday morning.
"The only flights allowed will be emergency response medevacs, and any performers and racers that are returning home," Hume added.
"We understand the impact that this closure has on our airport users and businesses. As soon as it is safe to do so, the airport will reopen."
The Federal Aviation Administration released a statement to ABC-7 that reads in part:
"A single-engine Extra Flugzeugbau 300/L crashed west of Las Cruces International Airport in New Mexico, around 2:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Oct. 20. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates."
The NTSB also shared a statement with ABC-7:
"NTSB is investigating the crash of an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L airplane at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Oct. 20 near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The preliminary information we have is that the plane impacted terrain one-half mile west of the Las Cruces International Airport while performing aerobatics at the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo."
"Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to the investigation are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov," the NTSB statement added.
ABC-7 is still working to independently confirm the pilot's identity.
New Mexico State Police, the FAA and the NTSB are continuing to investigate the crash, according to Hume.
Las Cruces Police Department spokesman Dan Trujillo confirmed the plane crashed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday near the Las Cruces International Airport.
