Monee man identified as plane crash victim

Associated Press

The Ogle County Sheriff’s office has identified the pilot of a single-engine plane who died when the aircraft crashed into a northern Illinois cornfield.

Officials say 77-year-old Thomas Plodzien of Monee died in the Tuesday crash. Plodzien told air traffic controllers he had smoke in his cockpit and he planned an emergency landing. The plane was engulfed in flames when crews arrived. The crash happened several miles southeast of Chicago Rockford International Airport.

Plodzien was the only person aboard the plane. He was flying from DeKalb to Rockford.

The Ogle County sheriff’s office, Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.