TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Two people were killed on Thursday when a small plane crashed near a west-central Florida airport, authorities said.<\/p>\n
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the Lancair Evolution airplane crashed in a wooded area near U.S. 301 and Maislin Drive, located northeast of downtown Tampa. Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue received multiple 911 calls at about 8:17 a.m. ET, WFLA<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n When firefighters arrived, the plane was engulfed in flames, according to the television station.<\/p>\n The crash occurred near the Tampa Executive Airport, WTSP<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n According to the sheriff\u2019s office, the plane took off from the executive airport but its destination had not been revealed by authorities, the television station reported.<\/p>\n The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have taken over the investigation of the case, the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n The names of the victims have not been released, pending next-of-kin notification.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a tragic day for the families of the two individuals who were involved in this plane crash,\u201d sheriff\u2019s office Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said during a news conference<\/a>. <\/p>\n