Air incidentsDC WireDistrict of ColumbiaGeneral NewsNY State WireNYC State WireTN State WireU.S. NewsVA State WireVirginiaWashington news Virginia plane crash investigators ask when pilot became unresponsive and why aircraft flew its path by Ryan Lee June 6, 2023 written by Ryan Lee June 6, 2023 0 comments Bookmark 67 Three U.S. officials disclosed on Monday that the pilot of a business jet, which flew over Washington and subsequently crashed in a remote area of Virginia, appeared to be slumped over and unresponsive. The observations were made by fighter pilots who intercepted the aircraft. The crash, which claimed the lives of four people, prompted federal investigators to navigate challenging terrain in their efforts to reach the crash site on a mountain. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authorization, stated that the fighter pilots had witnessed the civilian pilot in a slumped position. Meanwhile, the owner of the plane, as reported by various news outlets, confirmed that his daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter were among the passengers. The plane deviated from its intended flight path, taking an inexplicable turn over Long Island and flying directly over the U.S. capital. This prompted the military to scramble fighter jets, resulting in a sonic boom heard in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. The investigation faces significant challenges due to the remote and rugged terrain surrounding the crash site. According to NTSB spokesperson Eric Weiss, it took investigators several hours to reach the rural area near Montebello, approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Charlottesville. Their work at the scene is expected to span three to four days. During a briefing on Monday, NTSB investigator Adam Gerhardt described the wreckage as “highly fragmented.” After examining the most delicate evidence at the crash site, the wreckage may be transported, possibly by helicopter, to Delaware for further analysis. Gerhardt noted that while the plane was not required to have a flight recorder, other avionics equipment on board could provide valuable data for examination. The Virginia State Police announced that due to the severity of the crash, human remains would be transported to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy and identification. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the victims included the pilot and three passengers but withheld their names. No survivors were found. The investigators will focus on determining when the pilot became unresponsive and why the aircraft followed its unusual flight path. Gerhardt stated that they would consider several factors routinely examined in such investigations, including the plane’s condition, engines, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, and maintenance records. A preliminary report is expected to be released in 10 days. According to a timetable released by NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris, the plane departed from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. on Sunday, en route to MacArthur Airport in Long Island, New York. Air Traffic Control lost communication with the plane during its ascent. Preliminary information indicates that the last attempted communication between the plane and Air Traffic Control occurred around 1:28 p.m., when the aircraft was at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,449 meters). The plane continued to climb to 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers), maintaining that altitude until 3:23 p.m. when it began descending. Nine minutes later, the plane crashed. The NTSB reported that the plane was flying at 34,000 feet (10,363 kilometers) when it passed over MacArthur Airport at 2:33 p.m. The White House expressed its condolences to the families of those on board the plane. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby emphasized the need to prioritize support for the affected families. He deferred questions regarding the security response over Washington airspace to the Pentagon and U.S. Secret Service but commended the response as a textbook example. Throughout the incident, the White House remained informed as military jets attempted to establish contact with the pilot of the private plane. They monitored the aircraft’s trajectory from Washington airspace to rural Virginia, according to Kirby. Audio recordings from Air Traffic Control captured military pilots’ attempts to communicate with the private plane’s pilot on LiveATC.net. The plane flew directly over the nation’s capital, triggering an immediate deployment of six F-16 fighter jets from the Pentagon. The first aircraft to reach the Cessna Citation and initiate contact were two F-16s from the 113th Fighter Wing, based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Two F-16s from New Jersey and two from South Carolina also responded. Flight tracking data revealed that the plane experienced a rapid and spiraling descent, descending at a rate exceeding 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) per minute before crashing in the St. Mary’s Wilderness. Travis Thornton, a resident of Fairfax, Virginia, captured the crash’s sound on video as he and his wife were startled by a loud rumble and shaking. They quickly investigated the source of the noise. Thornton tweeted that after checking on their children upstairs, he went outside to inspect the house and speak with neighbors. The crashed plane was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc, a Florida-based company. John Rumpel, a pilot and owner of the company, stated that his family was returning to their home in East Hampton, Long Island, after visiting his house in North Carolina. Although Rumpel had limited information from authorities, he suggested that the plane may have suffered from pressurization loss, given its rapid descent. Rumpel identified his daughter, Adina Azarian, and 2-year-old granddaughter Aria as two of the victims in interviews with the New York Times and Newsday. Azarian, a well-known figure in real estate circles in New York City and Long Island, was described by friends and relatives as a fiercely competitive entrepreneur who started her own brokerage. She raised her daughter as a single parent. Friends recalled that being a mother meant everything to Azarian, who had recently relocated to East Hampton full-time to raise Aria with the assistance of a nanny. She frequently made trips back to her hometown, introducing both her daughter and the nanny to her close-knit extended family. Her cousin, Andrew Azarian, remembered her as happy in her new environment, saying, “Both of their lives hadn’t even started.” He expressed confusion and grief over the tragedy, asking, “How could this happen? No one can explain it.” Reporting from Silver Spring, Maryland, journalist Brumfield contributed to this article, along with Big Big News reporter Jake Offenhartz and researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York, and White House Correspondent Zeke Miller. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about plane crash investigationWhat caused the plane crash in Virginia?Were there any survivors in the plane crash?Why did military fighter jets intercept the plane?What challenges did investigators face in reaching the crash site?Will there be a preliminary report on the crash?More about plane crash investigation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about plane crash investigation What caused the plane crash in Virginia? The exact cause of the plane crash in Virginia is still under investigation. Investigators will examine various factors, including the pilot’s condition, flight path, aircraft maintenance, and weather conditions, to determine what led to the tragic incident. Were there any survivors in the plane crash? No, there were no survivors in the plane crash. The crash resulted in the loss of four lives, including the pilot and three passengers. Why did military fighter jets intercept the plane? The military fighter jets intercepted the plane because it deviated from its intended flight path and flew directly over Washington, D.C. The erratic behavior of the plane raised concerns and prompted the military to take action. What challenges did investigators face in reaching the crash site? Investigators faced challenges in reaching the crash site due to the rugged and remote terrain surrounding it. It took several hours for them to hike into the rural area near Montebello, Virginia, where the plane crashed. The difficult terrain posed logistical difficulties for the investigation process. Will there be a preliminary report on the crash? Yes, a preliminary report is expected to be released within 10 days of the crash. The report will provide initial findings and information gathered during the early stages of the investigation. However, the complete investigation may take longer to determine the definitive cause of the crash. More about plane crash investigation NTSB: National Transportation Safety Board, the agency responsible for investigating transportation accidents in the United States. FAA: Federal Aviation Administration, the governing body for civil aviation in the United States. LiveATC.net: Website providing live audio feeds from Air Traffic Control communication, including recordings of the incident. The New York Times: News publication with additional information and interviews regarding the plane crash. Newsday: Local news outlet covering the incident and providing insights from witnesses and family members. Silver Spring, Maryland: Location mentioned as the reporting site for journalist Brumfield. Joint Base Andrews: Military base in Maryland where the 113th Fighter Wing, involved in the incident, is stationed. You Might Be Interested In Pat Robertson, broadcaster who helped make religion central to GOP politics, dies at 93 Rebel Attack on Ugandan School Near Congo Border Claims Lives of 41 Biden Administration Developing Anti-Islamophobia Strategy Amidst Skepticism from Muslim Americans Authorities Rescind Stay-at-Home Directive Amid Ongoing Hunt for Suspected Mass Shooter Jon Rahm bolts for LIV Golf in a stunning blow to the PGA Tour Donald Trump Appears in Court Again, Highlights Defense Testimony Rejecting Accounting Fraud Claims Air incidentsair traffic controlaviation accidentsaviation safetybusiness jetcrash siteDC WireDistrict of Columbiafighter pilotsflight data analysisflight pathGeneral Newsmilitary operationNTSB investigationNY State WireNYC State Wirepilot's conditionpressurization lossremote terrainTN State WiretragedyU.S. NewsVA State WireVirginiaVirginia plane crashWashington news Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Ryan Lee Follow Author Ryan Lee is a technology journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the world of tech. He is passionate about new gadgets and software, and he enjoys testing and reviewing the latest products to hit the market. previous post Young, wild and free: Wolverine spotted in California for only second time in last 100 years next post Ukraine accuses Russia of destroying major dam near Kherson, warns of widespread flooding You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ