1 dead after planes collide at Colorado airport

(NewsNation) — One person was killed and another hospitalized Sunday when two small aircraft collided mid-air at a northeastern Colorado airport, officials said.

The FAA said a Cessna 172 and an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 struck each other as both aircraft attempted to land at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport around noon local time. There were two people aboard each plane, said the FAA, which will investigate along with the National Transportation Safety Board.

What happened at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport?

Both planes crashed and caught fire after colliding, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office said in a prepared statement. The occupants of the Cessna sustained minor injuries and were treated at the airport, but one of the occupants of the other plane was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

The second person on the other plane was taken to a local hospital, the sheriff's office said.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragic event," officials said. "Additionally, we want to thank the citizens who assisted in trying to extinguish the fire until the fire department and first responders arrived on the scene."

No additional details were released.

Fort Morgan is about 80 miles northeast of Denver.