Officials investigate cause of fatal Santa Monica plane crash

A flight instructor and student were killed Thursday when a small plane crashed at Santa Monica Airport.

Fire crews and paramedics were called just before 4:30 p.m. to the 3300 block of Donald Douglas Loop on reports of the crash and found the aircraft down on the tarmac, according to the Santa Monica Fire Department.

Paramedics pronounced both of the victims dead at the scene. Their names were not immediately released pending notification of relatives.

National Transportation Safety Board officials later confirmed the people aboard the single-engine, two-seat Piper Sport plane were a student and a flight instructor.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

Updated Sept. 8, 2022, 9:43 p.m.