By Mindy Regan Wood
Staff Writer
Editors note: The photograph of the firefighters on the cover of the March 21, 2019 print issue was provided by the Oklahoma City Fire Department.
OKLA. CITY – It seemed obvious that patrons and employees of the Sundance Airport were close to the two who lost their lives in a plane crash Monday afternoon.
“Obviously this is a somber day at the Sundance Airport. It is difficult to find the words to express our sadness,” said Sundance Airport spokeswoman Deborah Floyd. “Everyone at Sundance is family. It’s a close community here.”
Airport general manager Justin Skaggs could scarcely hold back tears. He was too emotional to speak about those who died.
One person was pronounced dead on the scene and the other was transported in critical condition to the trauma center at OU Medical Center but later died.
Oklahoma City Fire Department spokesman David Macy said the two were returning from a job.
“They were returning from the Grand Cayman Islands,” Macy said. “They were dropping some folks off and they were both with a corporate company that flies people. They were flying in from north to south.”
The plane landed upside down. It was a 1970s model, twin engine IAI Westwind which has two seats for pilots and eight for passengers.
“There was no post-crash fire,” said Macy, who did not know the cause of the crash.
Oklahoma City police and fire crews worked the scene until Federal Aviation Administration officials took over the investigation.
Macy did not know if any radio communications were active between the pilot and the airport control center.
He could not confirm if the plane contained a black box which is used to record mechanical incidents prior to a crash.
