Local

2 injured in ultralight-plane crash at Valkaria Airport

GRANT-VALKARIA, Fla. — A pilot and a passenger were injured Sunday morning when an ultralight plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Valkaria Airport in Grant-Valkaria, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office said.

The plane crashed shortly before 7:15 a.m., possibly due to a mechanical issue, Brevard County Lt. Kelly Simpkins said.

"This morning, an ultralight was taking off with an experienced pilot and a passenger," Simpkins said. "They experienced some type of malfunction during take off. The craft went down."

One man was flown to a hospital for treatment, while the other was brought by ambulance. Both are expected to survive.

Neither man was publicly identified, but deputies said one is in his 60s and the other is in his 50s.

One of the men was ejected from the plane when it bounced.

Federal Aviation Administration officials will investigate the crash.

No other information was released.

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