The pilot of a private plane that crashed in Virginia after being chased by fighter jets was seen slumped over in the cockpit, according to US media reports. Officials told outlets including the Washington Post and CNN that fighter jets intercepted the aircraft and spotted the seemingly unconscious pilot.
The Cessna Citation, en route from Tennessee to Long Island, made a sharp turn over New York and flew back south, entering restricted airspace over Washington DC. F-16 jets were authorised to fly at supersonic speed to intercept it, creating a sonic boom. The pilot had been silent for the last two hours of the flight, and the plane ran out of fuel before crashing in a wooded area near Montebello, Virginia, killing all four on board.
John Rumpel, 75, who owns the Florida-based aircraft, told the New York Times that his daughter, two-year-old granddaughter, and her nanny were on board, along with the pilot. He identified the pilot as Jeff Hefner, who had been flying for over five years. Rumpel said the plane descended at 20,000 feet per minute, adding, 'Nobody could survive a crash from that speed.'
Investigators are examining the highly fragmented wreckage, an operation likely to take days. A preliminary report is expected next week, with a final report in 12 to 24 months. The National Transportation Safety Board's Adam Gerhardt said, 'Everything is on the table until we slowly and methodically remove different components.'
Retired pilot instructor Richard Levy suggested the cabin may have depressurised gradually, causing hypoxia. 'They're unaware of what's happening, and then they've gone beyond the point of rational thinking,' Levy told the BBC. He believes the pilot may have tried to turn back on autopilot before losing consciousness. Military officials confirmed the plane was not shot down and the fighter jets did not cause the crash.
