Two people died in a small plane crash in Colorado.
According to a statement from the North Metro Fire Rescue District (NMFRD), the plane took off from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield around 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 17, and crashed shortly thereafter.
The pilot was “trying to return to the airport due to an issue” when the plane crashed in a field, according to the NMFRD.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the plane was carrying two people. The victims’ identities have not yet been released.
According to the NMFRD, the crash ignited a small grass fire at the scene, which firefighters have since extinguished.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims from this tragic accident,” officials wrote in a note.
The FAA identified the plane as a Beechcraft 95. The crash occurred approximately five minutes after takeoff.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently looking into the incident.
According to CBS News’ review of radio traffic, concerns about the plane were raised at around 10:01 a.m., when the pilot went unresponsive after failing to turn when alerted to another aircraft.
The pilot eventually informed the tower, “We will have to go back and re-land. We have popped the door open… “We can barely hear you, sir.”
They were then granted permission to return to the airport, but did not respond. The tower then informed the pilot that the plane was clear to land on the runway.
After three more announcements, another pilot informed the tower that “they just went down north of 36.”