Authorities say one of the two men who were injured when a small airplane crash-landed in a Surprise neighborhood on Saturday has died.
Surprise police say the single-engine aircraft, a 1956 Beech G35 aircraft, crashed around 5 p.m. Saturday inside a gated community. Peoria resident Joshua Merrill, 31, passed away during surgery on Saturday night. Glendale resident Michael Fox, 32, was moved into the ICU at a local hospital where he remains in serious condition.
According to investigators, the plane managed to land in a greenbelt area away from any homes or structures.
Firefighters responded and transported the pilot and sole passenger to a hospital. No one on the ground was injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.
The Surprise Police Department released a statement which read in part:
"We are continuing to pray for Mr. Fox to have a full recovery from his injuries. The Surprise Police are also keeping Mr. Merrill’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers as they go through this most difficult time of mourning."
