The pilot of a so-called ’ghost plane’ that crashed into a mountainside in Virginia, USA, had more than 40 years’ piloting experience under his belt and was even known to colleagues as “Mr Safety”.
Pilot Jeff Hefner was flying a private jet when it crashed after making a dramatic U-turn over New York and travelling into restricted airspace over Washington DC, triggering a sonic boom as F-16 jets pursued it, reports The Daily Express US.
At this stage, Mr Hefner is believed to have fallen unconscious while piloting the plane. The jet was owned by Florida business magnate and prominent Donald Trump donor John Rumpel.
Mr Rumpel said his daughter Adina Azarian, 49, and two-year-old granddaughter were among four victims of the crash. The family nanny was also killed in the incident.
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Florida lawyer Dan Newlin said he was incredibly surprised to hear about the incident as Mr Hefner has flown him more than 100 times over the last five years.
He said he specifically chose Mr Hefner as his law firm’s pilot due to his careful nature.
Mr Newlin told the Washington Post: “When it came to flying, he was always super serious, super cautious, and very focused. He knew aviation inside and out. It was his passion.”
According to a statement from Mr Hefner’s family, the late pilot began his flying career as a crop duster some 40 years ago before entering the commercial flight industry.
A father-of-three, Mr Hefner was a retired Southwest Airlines captain. He was also a former member of its union’s board of directors.
A decorated pilot, prior to his death Mr Hefner had recieved Federal Aviation Administration’s highest-level medical certificate and was approved to fly Boeing 737s.
Mr Hefner’s family said: “We are devastated by the news of this tragedy which took the lives of Jeff and all three passengers.
“Our hearts are full of sorrow for John and Barbara Rumpel for the loss of their daughter, granddaughter, and nanny.”
Family was hugely important to the pilot, according to a friend who flew with him only a week prior to the accident.
Giovanni Atiles Garcia emphasised Mr Hefner’s dedication to aviation safety, telling WaPo that his co-pilot always went above and beyond to ensure passenger wellbeing.
The airline said Hefner was a “defender of his fellow pilots’ safety, careers, and family”, in a statement following news of his death.”
It added: “We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, his family, and his friends. The aviation community has lost a true champion.”
According to Flight Aware, the plane’s final destination was due to be Long Island, New York, coming close to the city before it banked nearly 180 degrees into restricted airspace.
The jet crashed in Raphine, Virginia, leaving a “crater” that is indicative of a near-nosedive crash, a first responder at the site told CNN.
The plane was obliterated on impact, with only four recognisable pieces from the plane remaining.
One first responder at the scene commented, referring to remnants of the aircraft: “There was nothing really bigger than your arm.”
