Federal investigators are actively examining the tragic plane crash in Virginia, where a business jet crashed into a remote mountainous area, claiming the lives of four individuals, Your Content has learned.
The investigation reveals that fighter pilots who intercepted the flight observed the pilot slumped over and unresponsive.
The military scrambled fighter jets after the aircraft deviated from its flight path and flew directly over Washington, D.C., causing a sonic boom heard in the surrounding areas.
Due to the challenging terrain, it took investigators several hours to reach the crash site near Montebello, Virginia.
The wreckage, described as “highly fragmented,” will be carefully examined for evidence before being transported to Delaware for further analysis.
While the aircraft is not required to have a flight recorder, investigators hope to find other avionics equipment that could provide crucial data.
The victims of the crash included the pilot and three passengers, one of whom was identified as the pilot’s daughter, along with her 2-year-old granddaughter.
The Virginia State Police will transport human remains to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy and identification.
Investigation efforts will focus on determining when the pilot became unresponsive and the reasons behind the aircraft’s flight path.
Factors such as the plane itself, its engines, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, and maintenance records will be scrutinized.
A preliminary report is expected to be released in the next 10 days.
The White House expressed its condolences to the victims’ family, and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby emphasized the well-coordinated response to the incident.
The Pentagon deployed six F-16 fighter jets to intercept the aircraft, and military pilots attempted to establish communication with the private plane’s pilot.
Recordings of Air Traffic Control audio captured the military pilots’ attempts to contact the civilian pilot, who remained unresponsive.
Flight tracking data showed a rapid descent before the plane crashed in the St. Mary’s Wilderness.
The plane involved in the crash was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, based in Florida.
The owner, John Rumpel, speculated that the plane may have suffered from pressurization issues due to its steep descent.
Among the victims was Adina Azarian, a respected figure in New York City and Long Island’s real estate industry.
She was described as a determined entrepreneur who had established her own brokerage.
Azarian, accompanied by her 2-year-old granddaughter, was returning home to East Hampton after visiting her father in North Carolina.
Azarian’s family and friends are devastated by the tragedy.
She had recently moved to East Hampton to focus on raising her daughter, whom she cherished deeply.
The loss of both Azarian and her granddaughter has left loved ones searching for answers and grappling with the unimaginable, according to AP News.
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