Aviation Skyward

06/05/2026

Police Officer DJ Keller was killed in a head-on collision during the pursuit of a driver who sped away from a traffic stop.

Around 4:56 p.m., when an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle suspected to be involved in several shooting-related incidents, the three suspects in the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. While traveling westbound on East Cambridge Avenue, the driver crashed into Officer Keller, who was traveling eastbound while responding to assist.

Officer Keller died at the scene. His K9 survived the collision.

The driver, age 15, and the two passengers, ages 17 and 18, were transported to the hospital. One suspect was taken into custody after being released from the hospital.

Officer Keller was a United States Army and National Guard veteran who served with the Greenwood Police Department for three years. Survivors include his wife and daughter.

05/31/2026

A 23-year-old flight instructor from Virginia died on Thursday afternoon when a student crashed a small plane after causing it to stall during take-off...

A 23-year-old flight instructor from Virginia died on Thursday afternoon when a student crashed a small plane after causing it to stall during take-off

Instructor Viktoria Theresie Izabelle Ljungman died at the scene, while 18-year-old student-pilot Oluwagbohunmi Ayomide Oyebode and another 18-year-old passenger, who has not been named, were seriously injured, Virginia State Police told PEOPLE.

In a statement, police said Oyebode "attempted to pull the aircraft up at too steep of an angle," causing the plane to stall in mid-air after taking off from Newport News-Williamsburg Airport. The plane, a single-engine Cessna 172, had reached an altitude of about 100 feet before it crashed, the Associated Press reported.

Oyebode and the second student both attend Hampton University, a private university in Virginia, per the Daily Press. Both men had life-threatening injuries and were taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center after the accident. Oyebode was later transferred to VCU Medical Center.

05/30/2026

A tragic moment in air show history.

During the Vectren Air Show near Dayton, Ohio, a 450 HP Stearman carrying a wing walker suddenly crashed in front of thousands of spectators and burst into flames. The accident claimed the lives of both the pilot and the stunt performer, turning what was meant to be a breathtaking display of courage and precision into a heartbreaking tragedy.

Wing walking has always been one of aviation’s most daring performances where trust, timing, and skill must come together perfectly in the sky. This crash remains a solemn reminder of the risks faced by air show performers who push the limits of flight to inspire and amaze audiences.

Rest in peace to those who lost their lives in this devastating accident. 🇱🇷🕊

05/17/2026

A Life Flight helicopter that crashed in Lincoln, MT in the early hours of August 26, 2025. No patients were on board and nobody was injured in the crash.
Lincoln resident Brandi Lindstrom was celebrating a birthday with friends when she heard the Life Flight helicopter begin circling overhead. She captured the attempted landing on video. The aircraft is mostly hidden in a cloud of dust before its rotors clip a nearby sign..

Lindstrom says she has some EMT training and helped the crew out of the wrecked helicopter.

“They were fine,” Lindstrom tells MTPR. “They were just shaken up. They all refused medical.”

Police and fire officials confirmed the three onboard were unharmed. The Missoula-based helicopter attempted to land shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday just off Highway 200, which runs through the heart of Lincoln. It was responding to an injury in an ATV accident.

The Lincoln Rural Fire Department says a ground team came to pick up the injured person instead. Chief Zach Muse told MTPR the patient is in stable condition.

Life Flight Network is a nonprofit with bases in Missoula, Butte and Bozeman and in neighboring states. It partners with hospitals to provide air ambulance transport.

In a statement, Life Flight said it’s grateful no one was injured and it is cooperating with authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration is leading the investigation into the crash.

05/16/2026

Family of 4 killed after small plane crashes in North Carolina....

Family of 4 killed after small plane crashes in North Carolina

A family of four, including two young children, was killed on Monday in a small plane crash in North Carolina, according to officials.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to the crash just after 2 p.m. local time in Lee County...

05/16/2026

273 people killed in American Airlines Flight 191 at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport..

273 people killed in American Airlines Flight 191 at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

In 1946, Transjordan (now Jordan) became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Abdullah I.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy told Congress: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, ordered the Virginia county to reopen its public schools, which officials had closed in an attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka desegregation ruling.

In 1977, “Star Wars” was released by 20th Century Fox; it would become the highest-grossing film in history at the time.

In 2008, NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander arrived on the Red Planet to begin searching for evidence of water; the spacecraft confirmed the presence of water ice at its landing site

05/16/2026

Wisconsin skydivers jump to safety after two planes collide

Wisconsin skydivers jump to safety after two planes collide

Skydiving instructor Mike Robinson was at 12,000 feet, just seconds away from his fourth and final jump of the day, when a second plane carrying other skydivers struck the aircraft he was in, sending them all tumbling toward the ground.

None of the nine skydivers or two pilots sustained serious injury when the two planes collided in midair Saturday evening in far northwest Wisconsin near Lake Superior. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were in the area Sunday talking to those involved, and the cause of the incident was still being investigated, said FAA spokesman Roland Herwig.

Robinson, an instructor and safety adviser for Skydive Superior, said the skydivers had gone up for their last jump of the day – called the "sunset load" – and the two planes were flying in formation. It was supposed to be a routine jump, and a fun one for Robinson, who usually jumps as a trainer.

05/16/2026

Officer Enmanuel "Manny" Familia, a five-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department, sacrificed his life while attempting to rescue a 14-year-old boy struggling in Green Hill Pond. Responding to emergency calls about children in distress, Officer Familia and fellow officers entered the water to help. While two youths were successfully saved, Officer Familia and the boy tragically submerged during the rescue and were later recovered.

At 38 years old, Officer Familia left behind his wife and two children. His heroism and unwavering commitment to protecting others, even at the cost of his own life, deeply touched the Worcester community. Officer Familia is remembered as a courageous public servant whose selfless actions continue to inspire.

05/14/2026

Pilot in Hudson River helicopter crash called about needing fuel before fatal accident......

05/14/2026

bound helicopter crash-lands on highway, pilot suffers minor injuries
The helicopter made the emergency landing on the main road just below the highway near Sirsi following a technical snag shortly after take-off from Badasu base. All passengers are safe...