US: 6 killed in small plane crash near Ohio airport minutes after takeoff

Youngstown: Six people were killed when a small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on Sunday morning, authorities said.

The Cessna 441, registered to Meander Air LLC of Warren, Ohio, went down in a heavily wooded area near the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There were no survivors, confirmed Anthony Trevena, Executive Director of the Western Reserve Port Authority.

Trumbull County Coroner Dr. Lawrence D'Amico identified the victims as pilot Joseph Maxin, 63; co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55; and passengers Veronica Weller, 68; James Weller, 67; John Weller, 36; and Maria Weller, 34. The coroner did not confirm whether the passengers were related.

Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace noted that the crash site was difficult to access due to dense forest. “This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse,” he said, adding that three homes were located near the crash site.

Flight tracking data indicated the plane was headed to Bozeman, Montana, said Michael Hillman, president of aviation company JETS FBO Network. Hillman described the victims as “the best of the best,” expressing deep sorrow at their loss.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.