Three people died Saturday morning when two airplanes collided over Boulder County and crashed, according to the sheriff’s office.

Just before 9 a.m., emergency responders received calls about two planes colliding in midair east of Niwot, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. Two separate crash sites were found.

One plane crashed near the 10,000 block of Niwot Road on the south side, the sheriff’s office said. Two people onboard were dead. The other downed plane was found in the 9,700 block of Niwot Road on the north side. The pilot of the plane was dead.

The two planes involved were described by National Transportation Safety Board investigators as a Cessna 172 and a Sonex Xenos aircraft. The Sonex Xenos is a light, aluminum, low-wing homebuilt aircraft that seats two. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a popular single-engine aircraft that seats four.

None of the people involved was identified immediately. An investigation is ongoing.

The sheriff’s office, sheriff’s search and rescue, the coroner’s office, Mountain View Fire, Boulder Rural Fire Rescue, Boulder Emergency Squad, the State Patrol, the state Department of Transportation, Lifeline Helicopters, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded.

Witnesses are asked to call 303-441-4763 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

This story will be updated. 

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