MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 A small plane crashed just after taking off from Crystal Airport north of Minneapolis on Saturday, killing a North Dakota state legislator and the pilot, authorities said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Dakota state Rep. Liz Conmy, of Fargo, was killed in the crash, her colleague, state Sen. Tim Mathern, told the Star Tribune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The North Dakota Democratic\u2013Nonpartisan League Party, an affiliate of the national Democratic Party, confirmed Conmy\u2019s death in a social media post, calling her a champion for public education, the environment, and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are completely heartbroken and gutted by the loss of Representative Liz Conmy. Her death is a profound loss for our state,\u201d the party said in a post on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong called Conmy\u2019s death a \u201ctragic loss\u201d and directed flags to be flown at half-staff on the day of her interment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rep. Conmy, a dear friend and former colleague with whom I had the privilege of serving in the state House,\u201d Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden said in a news release. \u201cLiz brought integrity, compassion and unwavering dedication to her work on the Education and Judiciary committees.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officers responded to a report of a small airplane crash at 11:51 a.m. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rabe said the plane crashed shortly after taking off. He wouldn\u2019t say how many people were on the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that two people were aboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n