Two die after plane from Aurora crashes in Wisconsin

Two people were killed in the crash of a twin-engine plane that left Aurora Municipal Airport just after 6 p.m. Thursday, authorities said Friday.

The identities of the victims had not been released as of Friday evening.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane, headed for Lakeland/Lee Field Airport in Minocqua, Wis., crashed in northern Wisconsin.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said the plane was found five miles north of the airport where flight records indicate it was expected at 8:18 p.m. Thursday.

The FAA alerted the Vilas County Sheriff's Department at 8:30 p.m. that the plane was overdue.

According to flightaware.com, the twin-piston PA-44 Seminole, owned by the JA Aero division of JA Air, left the Aurora airport in Sugar Grove at 6:22 p.m.

JA Air President Brad Zeman said the aircraft was rented to a private individual.

"This was an airplane owned by JA Aero and JA Aero is a rental and sales company. The aircraft was rented by a customer," Zeman said. "There were no JA employees on board. It was rented by an individual and we cannot discuss his name or information."

According to the company website, "J.A. Aero ... established a reputation as the Midwest's best source for a wide selection of reliable, well-maintained, versatile used aircraft. Its qualified, seasoned sales staff connects aviators across the country with the right aircraft, from four-place singles to corporate jets."

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