Three Israelis Killed in Maryland Plane Crash Near Washington

Three Israeli nationals were killed when a small plane crashed in eastern Maryland late Sunday night, less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C. The aircraft had departed from New Jersey and was bound for Montgomery County when it went missing shortly before midnight. Maryland State Police and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The search for the missing aircraft was triggered by an automatic crash-detection alert sent from an iPhone aboard the plane, prompting a large-scale overnight search effort across the region. Search crews located the wreckage at approximately 3:45 a.m., where the pilot and two passengers were found dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.

Investigators are working to determine what led to the crash, with both state and federal authorities examining the wreckage and reviewing flight data as part of the inquiry. The loss has reverberated through the Israeli community, with officials and community members offering condolences to the victims' families. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.