WNY lawyers killed in small plane crash

Two WNY laywers,  Michael H. Doran and Matthew J. Schnirel, were killed in a small plane crash in Ohio on Tuesday. Doran and Murphy, LLP, released the following statement. 

"Michael was a great person, a dedicated father and son, a close friend and a wonderful attorney. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him as a result of the countless lives he touched.

Matt was a bright, ambitious young lawyer who came from a wonderful and very tight knit family. He had recently passed the NYS Bar Exam and purchased a home with his longtime girlfriend Lauren.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michael and Matt's family and friends. Our two brothers will be missed by their Doran & Murphy Family."

>> Click here for more on Michael H. Doran

>> Click here for more on Matt Schnirel

>> From the FAA: What info can I obtain about plane crashes?

>> From the FAA: How does the FAA investigate accidents/incidents?

--- Previously:

News 4 is closely following a developing story from Ohio. A small plane registered to a Buffalo attorney has crashed near Cleveland, and there are no survivors.

The names of the two people on board have not officially been released, but the plane is registered to Michael Doran, a well known Buffalo attorney who friends say was always seen flying.

Investigators say the plane took off around four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Elizabeth Isham Cory said, "This is a single engine Cirrus SR22, that departed Cuyahoga bound for Buffalo and crashed three miles from the airport."

According to the FAA, the Cirrus SR22 plane was registered to Doran, who is an attorney in Buffalo with the law firm Doran & Murphy.

The law firm's website states that Michaal Doran concentrates on representing railroad workers and on the job injury cases. He even won settlements for 9/11 disaster victims.

News 4 legal analyst Terry Connors says that Michael Doran is the kind of attorney that everyone respects, "Mike was a hard worker who represented hard working men and women and won landmark cases."

Connors says it wasn't unusual for Doran to be in Cleveland as he had many railroad clients there.

According to authorities in Ohio, it was raining and there was low visibility at the time of the crash.

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At least one person is confirmed dead following a plane crash just outside Cleveland, Ohio. Reports are the small single engine plane was on its way to Buffalo when it crashed on takeoff in Mayfield Village.

Few details are yet available. Officials are on the scene and continue to search for other occupants.

They have not yet been able to confirm whether there was more than one occupant when the plane crashed.