Pilot killed in crash of small plane in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The pilot of a small cargo plane was killed when the aircraft crashed during takeoff in Sioux Falls.

Officials say he was the only one on board when the twin-engine Mitsubishi went down about 4 a.m. Sunday at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.

The facility’s executive director, Dan Letellier, says the plane had some sort of problem and crashed about a half mile from where he took off.

Officials say the pilot originally departed from Everett, Washington to transfer cargo to Huron, but he was diverted to Sioux Falls around 1:40 a.m. because of thunderstorms in the Huron area.