Two die as plane from Detroit area crashes near Chicago

The Royal Air jet, which took off from Oakland County International Airport, plunged into the Des Plaines River as it approached Chicago Executive Airport about 1:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officials said the two pilots were the only people aboard the jet as it was making its final approach to the airport in Wheeling.

Emergency crews, which included divers, located the two bodies in the crumpled wreckage by Tuesday evening, Glenview Fire Chief Wayne Globeberger told reporters at the scene.

Royal Air employees, who declined to give their names, said no passengers were aboard, and that the jet wasn't carrying cargo.

"It's my understanding that the plane took off around 1 p.m. with a pilot and co-pilot," said J. David VanderVeen, director of central services for Oakland County International Airport.

"They're both professional pilots with commercial licenses," VanderVeen said. "They were landing at the Chicago Executive Airport to pick up cargo and then fly on to Georgia."

The weather was clear, with a temperature of 21 degrees, at the time of the crash.