Mississippi, United States: Two people died Sunday evening when a Piper PA-28-140 small aircraft crashed near the Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport in Marshall County, authorities confirmed, in a tragedy that has shaken local communities and sparked a federal investigation.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims Monday as 29-year-old Wesley Bolden of Marshall County and 17-year-old Jordan Hall of Olive Branch. Both were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency responders found the plane engulfed in flames in a wooded area shortly after 5 p.m. on Jan. 18.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched to the crash site east of the airport runway near Greer Road after receiving reports of a downed aircraft. Upon arrival, crews from multiple fire departments worked to extinguish the burning wreckage in dense terrain before confirming the fatalities.
Sheriff Kenny Dickerson described the crash zone as heavily wooded, which made access difficult for first responders, and said initial observations suggested the aircraft struck a large tree before impacting the ground.
Bolden, a resident of Marshall County, was known locally as a flight instructor operating out of the Holly Springs-Marshall County Airport. Officials have not yet publicly confirmed whether Hall was a student, but authorities believe the pair were on a routine flight when the aircraft went down.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Federal investigators were expected to arrive on site Monday to begin detailed examination of the wreckage and flight data.
Officials have not released specific information about weather conditions or mechanical issues, and it remains unclear whether the aircraft was attempting to land at the time of the accident.
Local leaders expressed condolences to the families of the victims. Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams said the loss of Hall, a young resident with his life ahead of him, “is truly heartbreaking and felt throughout our entire community.”
