BROOKLYN PARK, MN (CBS News) –The National Transportation Safety Board says it is investigating after an airplane crashed near Minneapolis late Saturday morning. According to the NTSB, it was a Beech F33A plane that crashed.

Two people were inside the aircraft, according to the FAA. The Brooklyn Park Police Department said that both people in the plane died. The police have been in contact with the family of the deceased.

WCCO has been able to confirm that one of the deceased in the plane was a North Dakota Representative, Liz Conmy.

North Dakota Democratic Minority Leader Zac Ista said in a statement, “I am completely devastated at the loss of our friend Liz. She lived life to its fullest, never shying from adventure or speaking her mind—often in refreshingly direct terms.”

Conmy has ties the University of St. Thomas and Minnesota State University.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the name of the other person inside the plane.

Local fire crews were on scene within minutes of receiving the call, according to officials.

The Metropolitan Airport Commission confirmed that a single-engine aircraft departed from the Crystal, Minnesota, airport.

There are no details on what could have led to the crash.

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) – A small plane crashed near Crystal Airport, killing both people on board and drawing a swift response from emergency crews and neighbors.

READ MORE: Fiery plane crash near Crystal Airport leaves 2 dead

Emergency response and community reaction after crash

What we know:

Investigators say the crash happened shortly after takeoff, with the plane identified as a Beech F33A. The Brooklyn Park Fire Department arrived within minutes and put out the fire. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed there were two people on the plane and local authorities said there were no survivors.

Neighbors living near the crash site described hearing a loud boom and seeing flames. 

“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,” said Ashley Capp, who lives across the street. 

Kim Clark, another neighbor, said, “It was scary because it was like, it’s really close to my home, and my family stays here.”

Clark captured video of the plane engulfed in flames just after the crash. 

“We look across the street, and it was a huge flame, huge fire. And then everybody started calling 911, and some people were getting close to see if there were anybody alive. But then it kind of started to spark, and the flames started to get bigger,” said Clark.

Police arrived quickly, but neighbors said the fire made it impossible to help those inside the plane. 

“The police got here in a few minutes, but it was kind of sad to watch them. You could almost tell on their faces that there was a person in there, and they were kind of circling the plane; they couldn’t do anything without fire,” said Capp.

The crash marks the second deadly plane crash in Brooklyn Park in more than a year. 

“It’s getting more and more worrisome because we’re kind of in the line of the airport there,” said Clark.

North Dakota Rep. among those killed

Dig deeper:

North Dakota State Rep. Liz Conmy was confirmed as one of the two people killed. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong released a statement saying, “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.”

North Dakota State Senator Tim Mathern also released a statement saying, “Rep. Liz Conmy was my running mate and friend. She had a zest for life and a strong work ethic. Our democracy needs more like her. She will be missed by Democrats and Republicans alike. Her family has our love and support.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to arrive on scene either Monday night or early Tuesday morning to begin a closer investigation of the wreckage. More details could become available once investigators have examined the site.

What we don’t know:

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Investigators have not released the identity of the second person on board or additional details about what led to the crash. 

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – This week, communities across the country are recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, an annual observance that has challenged the nation to confront and remove barriers to justice for crime victims since 1981.

This year’s observance runs April 19–25, led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime.

For North Dakota, the week carries special significance. In November 2016, North Dakota voters approved Marsy’s Law, known as Measure 3, with roughly 62% voter approval. The constitutional amendment took effect Dec. 8, 2016, guaranteeing crime victims the right to be notified, to be heard, and to be treated with dignity throughout the legal process.

“National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a time to call attention to just how far our state has come in providing victims of crime with constitutional rights,” said a spokesperson for Marsy’s Law for North Dakota. “North Dakotan crime victims have now had a voice in the justice process for the last 10 years, which is a milestone we’re proud to celebrate this year with survivors and advocates from across the country.”

A Voice for Victims

Holly Wethor knows firsthand what it means to finally feel supported by the justice system. As a victim advocate, she has seen Marsy’s Law change lives — including her own.

“You gain so much of your self-worth back, and you just see a clearer and brighter picture,” Wethor said. “I wish more people would learn about Marsy’s Law and learning through the courts that they can go through this and that they’re not alone and they can have that advocacy.”

Wethor’s message reflects what advocates across North Dakota say is the law’s most powerful impact, reminding victims they do not have to navigate the justice system alone.

Decades of Advocacy in North Dakota

The push for victims’ rights in North Dakota did not begin with Marsy’s Law. Advocates have been fighting for survivors for nearly five decades.

In 1978, the North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services, known as NDCAWS, began as an informal gathering of advocates from five crisis intervention centers across the state.

Around the same time, the Coalition Against Sexual Assault in North Dakota, or CASAND, was formed to address the statewide need for education, networking, and legislative change surrounding sexual assault.

Resources for Victims

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, the following resources are available:

• North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition: (701) 255-6240
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1 (800)799-7233