Dad killed as plane crashes, bursts into flames just feet from multi-million dollar homes
A married father lost his life in a tragic plane crash that occurred in an upscale Georgia neighborhood, with shocking images capturing the aircraft engulfed in flames just a few feet from a mansion.
Jason McKenzie, aged 45, perished when his single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 crashed on the front lawn of a sprawling residence in Augusta. First responders lauded McKenzie for seemingly maneuvering the plane to avoid hitting homes.
Despite the plane wreckage catching fire perilously close to the home, miraculously, no one on the ground suffered injuries. Neighbor Lisa Lewis remarked, “I think that was a miracle. I think the Lord protected everyone else.”
McKenzie, who served as the associate director of philanthropy at Augusta University, is survived by his wife and young son. The crash occurred shortly after he took off from Daniel Field Airport en route to Connecticut, reaching an altitude of 625 feet before the plane tragically crashed.
Responders commended McKenzie for his efforts in steering the plane to minimize ground injuries. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Ralph Hicks stated, “It’s very fortunate that this airplane didn’t hit a house.”
The left wingtip of the plane remained lodged in a tree for hours until firefighters were able to remove it around 5 p.m., as reported by the outlet.
Lewis recalled the moment of the crash, stating, “We hear planes all the time because we live close to Daniel Field, but this time it was way louder than normal, and it got louder and louder, and it just sounded like it was right outside the window.”
The crash, which claimed the life of the father and philanthropy director, is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
留言