News Release

Single-engine airplane crashes into woods near Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport

Date: September 28, 2024
Contact: Mike Barber, 252-475-9032

MANTEO, N.C. — At approximately 5 p.m. today, a single-engine airplane crashed into a wooded area at Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport (FFA).

Additional details

• Eyewitnesses reported that the airplane was attempting to land at the airport.
• Following the crash, a fire ensued that caused the airplane to burn.
• The fire was extinguished by the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department and other local fire departments.
• Multiple passenger fatalities have been confirmed.
• FFA is closed until further notice.
• The National Transportation Safety Board, an independent federal agency charged with investigating civil aviation accidents in the United States, will investigate the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration has also been notified.

Wright Brothers National Memorial will be closed Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Monitor the park’s Facebook page for updates on the status of operations.