A North Dakota state representative and the pilot of a small plane tragically lost their lives in a crash shortly after takeoff on Saturday near Crystal Airport in a Minneapolis suburb. Rep. Liz Conmy, a Democrat from Fargo, was identified as one of the two victims when the Beech F33A aircraft went down in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and caught fire.
“Liz served her state and community with care and compassion, from her service in the Legislature and on the state’s Human Trafficking Commission to her work on education, habitat, and immigration,” North Dakota GOP Gov. Kelly Armstrong wrote in a statement. “Kjersti and I are saddened by this tragic loss and offer our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and fellow legislators. We ask North Dakotans to join us in keeping them in our prayers.”
Armstrong ordered that all U.S. and North Dakota flags be flown at half-staff from dawn to dusk on the day of Conmy’s interment, urging North Dakotans to do the same at their homes and businesses.
“I 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,” Lt. GOP Gov. Michelle Strinden wrote in a statement. “Liz brought integrity, compassion and unwavering dedication to her work on the Education and Judiciary committees, and I was proud to partner with her on efforts to strengthen our schools. My thoughts are with her family and all who knew and loved her.”
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that two people were on board, but the pilot’s identity has not been publicly revealed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct an investigation, according to Fox 9.
“We are completely heartbroken and gutted by the loss of Representative Liz Conmy,” the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, which essentially caucuses with national Democrats, wrote Saturday on X. “Her death is a profound loss for our state. As a lawmaker, she championed public education, the environment, and transparency.”
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Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Matt Rabe reported that officers were called at 11:51 a.m. regarding a small plane crash in a park area. Emergency crews discovered the aircraft engulfed in flames shortly after it had taken off from Crystal Airport, located north of Minneapolis.
The Brooklyn Park Fire Department arrived within minutes and extinguished the fire, but no one on board the plane survived.
Neighbors near the crash site described hearing a loud explosion and witnessing flames shoot up from the wreckage.
“I was in the house, in my bedroom, and my daughter was eating cereal at the kitchen table, and there was a really loud boom,” Ashley Capp, who lives across the street, told FOX 9. Kim Clark, another neighbor, said the situation unfolded very quickly.
“We look across the street, and it was a huge flame, huge fire,” Clark told the station. “Everybody started calling 911.”
State Sen. Tim Mathern, who described Conmy as a friend and former running mate, said she brought “a zest for life and a strong work ethic” and would be missed by Democrats and Republicans alike. The crash was the second deadly plane incident in Brooklyn Park in more than a year, according to FOX 9.
In February 2025, just a month after he took office to begin his second term, President Trump responded to a second air disaster in as many days following the crash of a Lear 55 medical jet into a Philadelphia neighborhood.
“So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged. First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social page shortly after the incident Friday night.