A Southern California father of three was killed in a plane crash that appeared to have triggered a roaring wildfire. Ramzi Al-Shurman, 28, went down on Thursday morning while flying a small plane over a remote area of the El Paso Mountains.
His 2006 Cessna 182T vanished from flight radars shortly after taking off from the Inyokern airport at around 10:50 a.m., reported the New York Post. Al-Shurman's aircraft lost signal just seven minutes after departure.
The devastating crash allegedly triggered a 2,000-acre fast-moving wildfire, which was reported before 4 p.m. the same day, per CAL FIRE. The starting coordinates of the blaze aligned almost perfectly with Al-Shurman's final GPS location.
His devastated widow, Nadeen, and three children are facing 'unimaginable heartbreak,' according to a GoFundMe started for the family. 'He had spent the past few years dedicating his time and resources to building a brighter future for his family,' read the fundraising page.
Al-Shurman was survived by his wife Nadeen and their three children. 'Just ten days away from starting his dream job as a private pilot, his sudden passing has left Nadeen and her three children facing unimaginable heartbreak and uncertainty.'
Just a week before his death, Al-Shurman posted on Instagram, sharing his excitement over interviewing for a position as an airline pilot with Envoy Air. 'If you told me I would be interviewing for a position as an airline pilot 2 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you,' he wrote. 'The journey, the grind to get to this point was beyond worth it.' He thanked his mother, wife and pilot training company Top Flight Aviation.
The aircraft Al-Shurman crashed in was registered to Top Flight Aviation, which is based in Corona, California. The company appeared to make a generous donation to their late student's GoFundMe page.
On behalf of his surviving wife and children, loved ones asked for $100,000 to help Nadeen 'provide stability and care for her children as they navigate this painful chapter.' The site has raised more than $55,000 from family, friends and strangers who hoped to help the young family navigate their loss.
'The funds raised will help cover essential living expenses, provide shelter, food, and ensure her children have the school supplies they need,' it read. 'Every contribution will help Nadeen manage regular everyday expenses as she works to create stability for her family during this incredibly difficult time.'
According to his social media, Al-Shurman recently accepted a job with Envoy as a private pilot. He was a student at Top Flight Aviation. The plane he crashed in was registered to the company based in Corona, California.
The Kern County Fire Department has not officially confirmed Al-Shurman's crash, and the cause of the wildfire is still 'under investigation.' Though fire containment efforts have been difficult and in many areas required air support, the blaze is now 50 percent contained. No other fatalities have been reported.
The Daily Mail contacted the Kern County Fire Department and CAL FIRE for more information.
