The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a small plane crashed into a marshland in central North Carolina, killing three people.

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The crash happened just before 7:30 p.m. Friday near Louisburg, North Carolina, shortly after the plane off from the Triangle North Executive Airport.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said one man and two women died in the crash and were all on board at the time.

Rescuers searched through muddy conditions, in what appeared to be a recovery effort.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the investigation has been turned over to the FAA.

Officials said the plane was registered to a Raleigh company.

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Six soldiers were honored, each receiving Meritorious Service Medals, Thursday for heroic actions responding to the shooting at Fort Stewart. “One of the things I can say unequivocally is that the fast action of these soldiers — under stress and under trauma and under fire — absolutely saved lives from being lost,” U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told reporters as the six soldiers stood near him Thursday. “They are everything that is good about this nation.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC