A quiet Saturday in Brooklyn Park turned tense when a small plane crashed near Crystal Airport, sending a tall column of smoke over nearby neighborhoods and triggering a large emergency response. The aircraft reportedly went down in Southbrook Park, near Douglas Drive North and 62nd Avenue North west of the airport. Eyewitnesses and traffic cameras captured thick smoke over the area as crews rushed to the scene.
Crash site and response
Hennepin County dispatch confirmed the crash, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation released a photo showing smoke near the airfield, according to KARE‑TV. A traffic camera at I‑94 and County Road 81 also showed heavy smoke in the vicinity. Officials had not immediately released information on injuries, how many people were aboard, or what might have caused the crash.
Where it happened
Crystal Airport sits on the northwest edge of the Twin Cities and overlaps parts of Crystal and Brooklyn Park, placing parks and homes close to the runways, according to Wikipedia. Southbrook Park, where the plane reportedly went down, is a green space west of the airfield inside Brooklyn Park. The area has seen serious small plane incidents before, including a 2025 crash that destroyed a home and killed people, as reported by the Star Tribune.
Investigations and what is next
Authorities had not immediately released details about casualties or the aircraft's occupants, and no agency had announced a formal investigation at the time of reporting, KARE‑TV noted. Emergency crews remained on scene as officials worked to secure the area.
