2 Purdue flight students injured in small plane crash

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Officials at Purdue University say two of its flight school students were hurt in a small plane crash.

Purdue University spokesman Jim Bush says the students were practicing take offs and landings Wednesday evening in a Cirrus SR20 when the accident occurred. Bush says the students caught a strong crosswind while landing, causing the single-engine plane to crash at Fort Wayne International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it is investigating Thursday. Airport Executive Director Scott Hinderman says the crash closed both airport runways and forced a brief ground stop. He says the airport is back to full operations Thursday.

One student was a pilot and the other an instructor. Both are enrolled at the Purdue School of Aviation and Transportation Technology.

Officials say the students were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.