Authorities have identified the five individuals who lost their lives in a devastating plane crash at Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport in North Carolina. The victims include Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Jason Ray Campbell, 43, of Southern Pines, North Carolina; Kate McAllister Neely, 39, of Southern Pines, North Carolina; Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, of Marietta, Georgia; and a 6-year-old child.
The National Park Service expressed its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. The tragic incident occurred when a Cirrus SR-22 airplane crashed and caught fire while attempting to land at the airport near Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks.
Despite efforts by local fire departments to extinguish the flames, there were no survivors. Lt. Col. Jason Ray Campbell, a highly decorated military officer with nearly two decades of service, was among the victims. He had served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the crash, with a focus on determining the cause and preventing similar incidents in the future. NTSB investigator Ryan Enders assured the public that a preliminary report will be released within 10 days, while the full investigation may take up to a year.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, where the tragic crash occurred, holds historical significance as the site of the pioneering aviation experiments by Wilbur and Orville Wright that led to the world's first powered controlled flight. The community mourns the loss of the victims and awaits further updates on the investigation.
