Prince George’s County, MD (June 23, 2026) – Three men lost their lives after a single-engine aircraft crashed near Bowie in Prince George’s County late on Saturday night, June 20.
According to the Maryland State Police, a Piper Cherokee carrying a pilot and two passengers departed from Ocean City, New Jersey, and was en route to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg when it crashed at approximately 11:30 p.m.
The public safety officials received an alert regarding the aircraft around 11:45 p.m., prompting a large-scale search involving multiple fire and law enforcement agencies. The wreckage was located on Sunday morning near a residential area off Scarlett Oak Ct in Bowie. All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the victims as 26-year-old Yoav Bomrind of Israel, who was piloting the aircraft, 19-year-old David Rabinovitz of Israel, and 20-year-old Elad Neidik of Canada.
Investigators believe the aircraft belonged to a local flight school in Montgomery County and that the flight may have been a training exercise. Officials have not released additional details regarding what may have caused the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time.
Why Are Aviation Accident Investigations So Long?
Aircraft crash investigations are lengthy and highly detailed processes involving multiple agencies. Investigators carefully examine the wreckage, flight path information, maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, and communications leading up to the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board works to determine the probable cause of a crash and identify any contributing factors. Preliminary findings may become available within weeks, but final reports take months to complete due to the complexity of aviation investigations.
These investigations play a critical role in improving aviation safety and helping prevent similar tragedies in the future.
