2 Killed in Plane Crash Near Bay Bridge: Update

Updated at 8:25 p.m.

STEVENSVILLE, MD — Two people were killed in a plane crash near the Bay Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, according to Maryland State Police.

Pronounced dead at the scene, the man and woman aboard the aircraft have not been publicly identified. The victims' names are being withheld, pending next of kin notification, police said Tuesday night.

Troopers and firefighters responded to the crash at 12:44 p.m. in the area of MD 8 and eastbound US 50 in Queen Anne's County, according to Maryland State Police.

Witnesses told state police the plane, a Van's Aircraft RV 12, exploded after crashing to the ground in an open field near the Ellendale Manor community in Stevensville. Authorities said the plane was used by Chesapeake Sport Pilot, a flight school on Kent Island.

In a statement to WJZ the flight school said, "We send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of those involved in this tragedy. Chesapeake Sport Pilot is a close knit community of individuals who share a passion for aviation, and I know we will all grieve this loss for some time. We offer our help and support to all those affected.”

The Federal Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate what caused the plane to crash.

The Maryland State Police said it will not speculate on the cause of the crash. The cause of the crash will be investigated and determined by federal authorities.

The incident comes three days after a helicopter inspecting utility lines crashed and went up in flames in Anne Arundel County, near the BWI MARC station.

Nobody was seriously injured in that crash, Maryland State Police reported. Federal investigators are leading the probe into that case.