A small plane crashed shortly after taking off from Crystal airport north of Minneapolis on Saturday, killing a North Dakota state legislator and the pilot, authorities said.
Victim Identified
Liz Conmy, a North Dakota state representative from Fargo, was killed in the crash, her colleague, state senator Tim Mathern, told the Star Tribune.
The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League party, an affiliate of the national Democratic party, confirmed Conmy's death in a social media post, calling her a champion for public education, the environment and transparency.
“We are completely heartbroken and gutted by the loss of Representative Liz Conmy. Her death is a profound loss for our state,” the party said in a post on X.
Crash Details
Officers responded to a report of a small airplane crash at 11.51am and found an aircraft that had crashed and caught fire in a park in the city of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, shortly after taking off, Brooklyn Park police inspector Matt Rabe said.
Rabe said the plane crashed shortly after taking off. He wouldn't say how many people were on the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that two people were onboard.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating a crash involving a Beech F33A airplane and expects investigators to arrive at the scene soon.
The crash site was located in a park, and the aircraft caught fire upon impact. Emergency services responded promptly, but both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The identities of the victims have been confirmed as Liz Conmy and the pilot, whose name has not yet been released pending family notification.
Conmy was a first-term state representative known for her advocacy on education funding, environmental protection, and government transparency. Her sudden death has sent shockwaves through the North Dakota political community, with many colleagues expressing their condolences and remembering her dedication to public service.
