A single-engine plane crashed at a Georgia airport, killing two people, according to authorities.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that based on preliminary information, a Cirrus SR22 crashed while landing at Barwick–LaFayette Airport around 2:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, March 20.

LaFayette Public Safety Director Stacey Meeks identified the victims as Russell Edward Jones, 48, of LaFayette, and Steven Boyd Powell, 52, of Cartersville, according to local station WXIA-TV and Local 3 News.

Both were licensed pilots.

The crash occurred at the north end of the airport’s runway, according to Meeks, who told NBC affiliate WRCB that upon arriving at the scene, you could “tell it was a really bad crash” and that “the plane was fully engulfed with flames.”

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“It’s a very tragic incident,” he added. “Horrible loss of life and our hearts go out to everybody involved.”

Speaking with ABC affiliate WTVC, Gabrielle Hertson said she heard a loud crash but didn’t know it came from the airport.

“I was kind of surprised,” Hertson said. “I didn’t think it happened somewhere so close to home. I just moved back down to the area, so being down here and hearing something like that was kind of shocking.”

Stephanie Jean Powell McCarty, who said Powell was her twin brother, mourned his death on social media.

“Losing my twin is like losing a part of myself. He was my other half, my constant companion, and my best friend. I am struggling to find the words to express the depth of my sorrow,” the grieving sibling wrote. “This is a loss that will forever be felt, and I am heartbroken. I will miss him dearly, and his memory will live on in my heart.”

The National Transportation Safety Board will be in charge of the ongoing investigation.