Plane Crash Kills Two at Spirit Airlines Airport
Tragedy strikes as a small charter aircraft collides on runway at regional Spirit hub
Detroit, MI – April 15, 2025 – Tragedy unfolded this morning at a regional Spirit Airlines hub outside Detroit when a small charter plane crashed during takeoff, killing two people and injuring several others. The accident occurred just after 9:00 a.m. at Willow Creek Regional Airport, a private airfield recently converted to host Spirit Airlines’ regional operations.
The victims, identified late Tuesday afternoon as 49-year-old pilot Mark Delaney and 32-year-old flight technician Sara Collins, were both seasoned aviation professionals. Their plane, a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air, veered off the runway moments after lift-off and burst into flames as it collided with an equipment storage building near the western edge of the airport grounds.
Fire crews responded within minutes, but by the time they extinguished the blaze, Delaney and Collins were already dead. Two airport ground crew members were also injured in the incident, one of them critically, after debris from the explosion sent metal fragments flying across the tarmac.
Spirit Denies Direct Involvement
Although the accident happened on Spirit Airlines-managed property, the airline released a statement emphasizing that the aircraft was not part of its commercial fleet.
“We are deeply saddened by the events at Willow Creek this morning,” the statement reads. “While this was not a Spirit Airlines aircraft, the loss of life affects all of us in the aviation community. We are cooperating fully with federal and local authorities in their investigation.”
The plane, operated by Iron Ridge Air Services, was reportedly on a routine maintenance check flight after undergoing upgrades to its avionics system. The company, based in Grand Rapids, confirmed the identities of the deceased and said the flight had been cleared for a standard short-run circuit before returning to the same airport.
“This is a devastating loss for us,” said Iron Ridge CEO Pamela Worthington. “Mark and Sara were among our most experienced and respected personnel. We will do everything in our power to support the families and ensure that the investigation gets the answers they deserve.”
Eye Witnesses Describe “A Screaming Turn”
Several airport workers and passengers waiting at nearby gates witnessed the crash and described a terrifying sequence of events.
“I heard this screeching noise, like the engines were revving too hard,” said Lawrence Jensen, a Spirit baggage handler who was working on a nearby aircraft. “The plane lifted off but immediately banked hard left. It looked like it was trying to climb but couldn’t get altitude.”
Another eyewitness, 22-year-old Tessa Murray, had just arrived on a Spirit flight from Orlando. “I saw it wobble like crazy and then it just dropped like a stone. A huge ball of fire shot up—then smoke everywhere.”
Preliminary data from airport radar logs confirm that the aircraft reached no more than 120 feet in altitude before stalling and plummeting back to the ground. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at the scene within hours and cordoned off a large portion of the western runway area.
Mechanical Failure or Human Error?
While the cause of the crash remains under investigation, early theories point to a catastrophic engine failure or possibly a control system malfunction. The fact that the aircraft had just undergone technical upgrades is now a major focus of investigators.
“We are currently examining flight logs, maintenance records, and interviewing witnesses,” said NTSB official Carla Lammons during a press briefing. “We’ve recovered the flight data recorder, which will provide more clarity on what happened in those final seconds.”
When asked whether pilot error could be a factor, Lammons declined to speculate. “At this time, we are not ruling anything out. What we do know is that both crew members had years of experience and were flying a well-understood aircraft under ideal weather conditions.”
Airport Security Concerns Raised
Though Spirit Airlines had no direct involvement in the crash, today’s incident has reignited criticism over the airline’s controversial decision to convert Willow Creek Regional into a makeshift regional hub late last year. The airport, once used primarily for cargo and private aircraft, was not originally designed to handle commercial traffic or maintenance testing.
“There have been concerns about the safety protocols at Willow Creek ever since Spirit moved in,” said aviation consultant Derrick Langston. “The runway length, the emergency access roads, the fire response teams—they were all built for smaller operations. You have to wonder whether this expansion was rushed.”
Local officials have also faced scrutiny. City Council member Renee Alvarez criticized the county for approving the expansion without a full environmental or safety review. “We’ve got families living less than a quarter-mile from the fence line,” she said. “Today’s crash is a wake-up call.”
Community in Mourning
Flags were lowered to half-staff at Willow Creek Airport as news of the victims’ identities became public. Both Delaney and Collins were well-known in Michigan aviation circles and had worked together on over a dozen flights.
“They were a tight-knit team,” said colleague James Tillman. “Mark had this calm presence in the cockpit, and Sara was a genius with systems. It’s hard to believe they’re gone.”
A memorial vigil is planned at Grand Rapids Regional Airport, where Iron Ridge is headquartered. Support groups have already been organized for the families, and grief counselors were dispatched to Willow Creek to support airport staff and first responders.
FAA Orders Temporary Halt to Testing Flights
In the wake of the crash, the FAA has temporarily suspended all non-commercial test flights at Spirit’s Willow Creek facility until further notice. While commercial flights resumed by late afternoon, a heavy police and media presence lingered as investigators sifted through the charred remains of the aircraft.
As night fell, the lights of emergency vehicles still flickered against the terminal windows. For many, the tragedy served as a haunting reminder that even in an industry defined by safety protocols and checklists, a single malfunction can end in disaster.
“Our thoughts are with the families, and our mission is clear,” said NTSB’s Lammons. “We will find out what happened—and we will make sure it doesn’t happen again.”