2 dead after plane crashes at DuPage Airport in West Chicago

A plane crash at DuPage Airport in West Chicago left two dead Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The twin-engine aircraft crashed just after takeoff shortly before 2 p.m., airport officials said.

There were two adult men on board. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The exact cause of the crash is under investigation. According to preliminary information, the Federal Aviation Administration said a Piper PA-30 crashed after departing from the airport near the border of DuPage and Kane counties.

Airport officials are coordinating with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the investigation. That agency also cited preliminary information that the plane crashed during landing.

An NTSB investigator is en route to the scene and is expected to arrive Thursday morning. Once on site, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the area and examining the aircraft. The plane will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.

West Chicago Fire Department and police personnel responded immediately to the crash.

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” the airport said in a statement.

About a dozen emergency vehicles were seen around the wreckage at about 3:30 p.m.

The plane was left with significant front-end damage in a snow-covered area near a runway. The full aircraft registration number, or N-number, also was not legible in photos of the heavily damaged plane.

NTSB investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment.

Witnesses to the crash 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.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the airport was partially open.

No additional details were immediately released.

• Daily Herald staff writer Jake Griffin contributed to this report