A tragic plane crash in Texas has claimed the life of a young pilot.
During the incident, Logan James, a resident of Stokesdale, North Carolina, was piloting a Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
On Wednesday (January 24), the 23-year-old, departing from the ATP Flight School situated at Addison Airport, embarked on a journey toward East Texas.
While in flight, Logan, who held a private pilot certification, reportedly disregarded instructions from air traffic controllers.
Authorities report that James proceeded to fly east before changing course northward towards the Texas-Oklahoma border.
Subsequently, the aircraft crashed into a field near Telephone, and regrettably, James was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the aftermath of the incident, ATP has released a statement confirming that the plane involved belonged to its Addison training facility.
According to CBS News, the statement began with, “On Wednesday, January 24, an ATP Cessna 172 from the Addison, TX, training center was involved in a fatal accident near Hugo, OK, northwest of Paris, TX.”
Logan James was just 23 years old. Credits: LinkedIn
The sole occupant of the aircraft was an ATP student with a private pilot certificate. The incident took place in a secluded area, and there were no injuries reported among individuals on the ground.
ATP is actively collaborating with local emergency response teams, the FAA, and NTSB authorities. Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the pilot’s family, loved ones, friends, and colleagues.
In the aftermath of James’ passing, the audio recording capturing his last words has been made public.
The ATC Live shared recording reveals the young pilot stating, “I’m ascending through a few clouds, then planning to fly beyond all controlled instructions. At this point, you’ll likely understand that I won’t be following your directions, and I’m headed towards East Texas.”
The flight set off from the ATP Flight School at Addison Airport. Credits: CBS Texas
James proceeded by saying, “I’m going to disconnect the Comm 1 circuit breaker and the Comm 2 circuit breaker shortly after releasing the microphone key.”
The 23-year-old’s communication was abruptly terminated at that point.
Air traffic control requested him to repeat his message, but received no response.
They subsequently attempted to establish communication with James for a duration of 10 minutes, without success.
As reported by Mail Online, the Texas Department of Public Safety stated that James had permission to use the aircraft for a practice flight maneuver. However, the Addison Police Department is currently investigating whether the plane was potentially stolen.
The circumstances surrounding the plane crash, including the cause and motive, remain unclear. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are conducting investigations to determine the factors contributing to the incident.
His father described James as “a wonderful son, with a gentle and loving spirit.”
