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South Carolina, United States: Four people were killed after a single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after departure near Union County Airport on April 17, with federal investigators now examining the cause of the fatal accident. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft involved was a Mooney M20P, which went down at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time near the airport shortly after takeoff. All four occupants on board were killed in the crash. Authorities said the aircraft had departed from Union County Airport and was en route to Ellijay, Georgia, a route often used for short private flights across the region. Local officials later confirmed the identity of all four victims: James Moffatt (60), identified as the pilot Leasa Moffatt (61) Andrew Moffatt (30) William Moffatt (28) The identities were released by the Union County Coroner’s Office after next of kin had been notified. According to the coroner, the four people were members of the same family and were flying from the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area to the Huntsville, Alabama area. Emergency crews responded following reports of smoke near the airport area. Due to difficult terrain, the South Carolina Forestry Commission had to deploy heavy equipment, including a bulldozer, to clear access to the wreckage site. Authorities confirmed the aircraft was a single-propeller plane that had crashed in a wooded area near the airport. No survivors were found at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation, working alongside the FAA, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the coroner. Investigators will focus on three primary areas: The pilot The aircraft The operating environment, including weather and flight conditions Officials indicated that the wreckage may be removed from the site in the coming days as part of the investigative process. The NTSB noted that determining a probable cause could take 12 to 24 months, which is standard for general aviation accident investigations.

4 Family Members Killed In Small Plane Crash Shortly After Takeoff In South Carolina

Aviation Today News Desk / April 20, 2026

South Carolina, United States: Four people were killed after a single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after departure near Union County Airport […]

Aircraft Crashes

Russian Military Aircraft Crashes In Crimea After Losing Contact, Kills All 29 Onboard

Aviation Today News Desk / April 1, 2026

Update: 6th April, 2026 Lieutenant General Alexander Otroshchenko identified as one of the victim in the fatal crash, he was

New Delhi, India: An IndiGo flight operating from Visakhapatnam to Delhi made a safe emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday morning after suffering a mid-air engine failure. The flight, identified as 6E579, was carrying 160 passengers onboard, sources told PTI though a detailed passenger-crew breakup has not been officially disclosed by the airline. The aircraft encountered a failure in one of its engines during the flight, prompting the pilots to initiate emergency procedures and seek priority landing clearance in Delhi. Despite the technical issue, the crew continued operations using the aircraft’s remaining engine, in line with standard safety protocols for twin-engine jets. Airport authorities declared a full emergency at 10:39 AM, activating all necessary response mechanisms. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at approximately 10:54 AM on Runway 28, with fire tenders and rescue teams positioned on standby as a precaution. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737, approximately 15 years old, operating under a wet-lease arrangement from Corendon Airlines. Under such agreements, the leasing airline typically provides the aircraft along with crew and maintenance support. All passengers and crew onboard the flight were reported safe, with no injuries or damage recorded. Following the landing, emergency status at the airport was withdrawn, and operations continued without significant disruption. The airport operator of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that standard emergency protocols were followed to ensure a safe and controlled landing environment.

Incidents

IndiGo Flight Boeing 737 Makes Emergency Landing In Delhi After Mid-Air Engine Failure

Aviation Today News Desk / March 28, 2026

New Delhi, India: An IndiGo flight operating from Visakhapatnam to Delhi made a safe emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International

Incidents

American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Newark After Nose Tire Failure

Aviation Today News Desk / March 26, 2026

Newark, United States: An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX operating as Flight 1461 executed a safe emergency landing at Newark

Helicopter Crash

Firefighting Helicopter Crashes In Hout Bay During Wildfire Operations, Pilot Survives

Aviation Today News Desk / March 26, 2026

Cape Town, South Africa: A firefighting helicopter operating over the slopes of Hout Bay in Table Mountain National Park crashed

Aircraft Crashes

Colorado Plane Crash Kills 4 Onboard Near Steamboat, All Victims Identified By Police

Aviation Today News Desk / February 16, 2026

Steamboat Springs, United States: A private single-engine aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain near Steamboat Springs in the early hours of

Incidents

Starsky Plane With 55 Onboard Skids Into Sea After Emergency Landing In Somalia

Aviation Today News Desk / February 11, 2026

Mogadishu, Somalia: A passenger aircraft carrying 55 people safely evacuated after veering off the runway and ending up on a

Helicopter Crash

5 Onboard Killed In Medical Evacuation Helicopter Crash At Al-Sarra Air Base In Libya

Aviation Today News Desk / February 10, 2026

Tripoli, Libya: Five people lost their lives when a helicopter crashed near Al-Sarra Air Base, close to Kufra in southeastern

Jet2 Flight Declares Emergency Over UK After Pilot Becomes Incapacitated Mid-Air SEO DES: During approach, ATC was alerted after a pilot fell ill, emergency services were deployed and the remaining crew landed the aircraft safely at Manchester SOCIAL: A Jet2 Airbus A321 operating Flight LS980 from Lanzarote to Manchester declared a mid-air emergency during its final approach after one pilot became medically incapacitated. The crew activated Squawk 7700, prompting ATC to provide priority landing clearance and deploy emergency services. The remaining pilot landed the aircraft safely at Manchester. The affected pilot received medical attention. No passengers or crew were injured, and standard aviation safety protocols were followed throughout. Image: Transport Pixels (Flickr) Video: Jet 2 Manchester, United Kingdom: A Jet2 passenger aircraft declared a mid-air emergency during its approach to Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening after one of the pilots became incapacitated due to a medical issue, aviation and airline sources have confirmed. The aircraft, Flight LS980, an Airbus A321 bound from Lanzarote, Canary Islands to Manchester, transmitted a Squawk 7700 general emergency code, the international radio transponder signal indicating a critical in-flight emergency approximately 25 minutes before its scheduled landing. Flight data and reports indicate the Airbus A321 departed Lanzarote at about 15:45 GMT and initially progressed normally until the final stage of descent toward Manchester Airport. It was during this approach phase that the cockpit crew informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) that one pilot was unable to continue due to a sudden medical problem. In response, ATC provided priority handling and clearance for landing, while emergency services including fire, rescue and medical teams were placed on standby at the airport. Despite the sudden loss of one pilot, the remaining flight crew maintained control and continued the descent. The aircraft touched down safely on Runway 05L at Manchester Airport at approximately 20:14 GMT. Once on the ground, the incapacitated pilot was met by waiting medical personnel and taken for further assessment. There have been no reported injuries among passengers or cabin crew, and disembarkation occurred in a routine and orderly manner, according to airline and airport representatives. A Jet2 spokesperson told GB News the carrier had requested a priority landing after one of the pilots “felt unwell,” adding: “The aircraft landed safely and customers disembarked as normal.” Commercial jetliners such as the Airbus A321 typically operate with a captain and first officer. In the event one pilot becomes incapacitated, industry training and procedures direct the remaining qualified pilot to assume full control of the aircraft. Such protocols, regularly practiced in simulators, are designed to maintain safety during critical phases such as approach and landing. The use of Squawk 7700 ensures ATC and emergency services are rapidly made aware of in-flight emergencies so they can provide priority routing and ground support. Manchester Airport, one of Jet2’s principal UK hubs, confirmed that emergency equipment and teams were ready at the runway in anticipation of the flight’s arrival, reflecting standard safety protocol for declared emergencies.

Incidents

Jet2 Flight Declares Emergency At Manchester Airport After Pilot Becomes Incapacitated

Aviation Today News Desk / February 5, 2026

Manchester, United Kingdom: A Jet2 passenger aircraft declared a mid-air emergency during its approach to Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Two Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) pilots were killed Thursday morning when their light attack and reconnaissance aircraft crashed during a training mission in Chiang Mai province, military officials confirmed. The aircraft, a Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine, went down at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time in a remote training area of Chom Thong district, about 60 kilometres southwest of Chiang Mai International Airport, according to RTAF spokesperson Air Marshal Chakkrit Thammavichai. The plane was on a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) training flight when it crashed into a forested hillside near Ban Huai Fang village, officials said. Rescue teams were alerted at 10:48 a.m. and reached the site, which was reported to be largely inaccessible by road, requiring responders to hike through rugged terrain. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found the aircraft engulfed in flames with debris scattered over a roughly 20-metre radius, and a crater reportedly formed at the impact point. The bodies of both pilots remained inside the wreckage when rescuers reached the scene. Authorities have cordoned off the crash site while investigators work to determine the underlying cause of the accident. There have been no reported civilian casualties or damage to nearby property. The RTAF has identified the two pilots as Squadron Leader Samatcha Khunmas, an instructor pilot, and Flight Officer Korawit Jenkit. Both were experienced aviators assigned to Squadron 411, Wing 41, which operates from Chiang Mai Air Base. The air force expressed “deepest condolences” to the families of the fallen pilots and pledged full support during the aftermath of the crash. The AT-6TH Wolverine is a two-seat turboprop light attack and reconnaissance aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation in the United States. Thailand procured the model as part of a fleet modernization initiative, commissioning eight AT-6TH aircraft with Squadron 411, Wing 41 at Chiang Mai Air Base in September 2025. The platform supplements Thailand’s defence capabilities in roles including border surveillance, counter-narcotics operations and close air support, and is considered a key asset in the RTAF’s tactical training syllabus. Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force, has ordered an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the crash, appointing an aircraft accident board to analyse flight data, mechanical components and operational factors. Officials said the inquiry will follow stringent aviation safety standards to identify causal factors and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Aircraft Crashes

Royal Thai Air Force Training Aircraft Crashes In Chiang Mai, Two Pilots Killed

Aviation Today News Desk / January 31, 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Two Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) pilots were killed Thursday morning when their light attack and reconnaissance

rescue teams

4 Family Members Killed In Small Plane Crash Shortly After Takeoff In South Carolina

Russian Military Aircraft Crashes In Crimea After Losing Contact, Kills All 29 Onboard

IndiGo Flight Boeing 737 Makes Emergency Landing In Delhi After Mid-Air Engine Failure

American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Newark After Nose Tire Failure

Firefighting Helicopter Crashes In Hout Bay During Wildfire Operations, Pilot Survives

Colorado Plane Crash Kills 4 Onboard Near Steamboat, All Victims Identified By Police

5 Onboard Killed In Medical Evacuation Helicopter Crash At Al-Sarra Air Base In Libya

Jet2 Flight Declares Emergency At Manchester Airport After Pilot Becomes Incapacitated

Royal Thai Air Force Training Aircraft Crashes In Chiang Mai, Two Pilots Killed

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