Authorities say Charles Crooks either jumped or fell out of the plane 20 miles from the airport where his co-pilot made an emergency landing after the plane’s landing gear malfunctioned. Crooks’ father said the family is still in shock as multiple agencies are still investigating the incident. WRAL’s Keenan Willard reports.
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Condolences to the family.
The comments below are idiotic speculation.
If you jump out right before the plane hits the ground you'll be okay. Saw it on Bugs Bunny. 👌
Did he jump or fall out
No matter what led to him exiting the aircraft now his loved ones are grieving. Rest in peace.
Panic? Rip
His plan was to commit suicide not die in a plane crash
Why does he look like drake lost brother lol
Sounds like suicide
Don't end the video with Lester Holt propaganda marketing pitch.
What a devastating way to die…wow…rip 🙏🏻
Certainly seems suspicious. Doubt he jumped unless under threat.
So sad RIP
🐴💩
Maybe he wanted to go see GOD
He was pushed out . Do the math …..
Condolences to all affected!
Especially his loved ones!
🙁
Should have stayed in the plane
The plane is registered to a foreign company registered as a LLC in NC which had operations permit revoked 11 years ago. Something fishy. The CIA use the same type of aircraft painted white for clandestine operations and parachute training and this happened near Ft Bragg. I used to work for a CIA maintenance and transport contractor and all their planes have similarly vague and sketchy registrations.
One thing is for sure, based on my experience in aviation, this being accidental seems unlikely. But without more info it is tough to have any strong gut feeling.
The public records on the aircraft registration place them in CO but there are also incorporation records in Tx. Based on those records, this purports to be a company that either grows, distributes or imports gourmet mushrooms but why are they being so tight lipped about details? Whole thing smells fishy. It seems unlikely a small grower eligible to register as an llc could afford a $1.2m plane. And landing gear usually doesn't just fall off unless you are really cutting corners with maintenance and a plane used in commerce requires more maintenance and inspection. . It will be interesting to read the full accident report.
So bizarre. Hope they find out what really happened.
This seems really fishy
Seems like a tragic accident to me. I don't see any reason why a smart and experienced pilot that loved flying would jump from an airplane with no parachute. It sounds like there was an emergency situation and he was trying to help solve the problem and lost his life in the process. Very weird and sad story.
What a freak accident!!! So sorry !
Wonder what the pilot who survived says about what happened…he should know
Seems very suspicious
It's called suicide. Accept it.
lot of questions. was their an argument and the other pilot did something to him like throw him off or push? maybe turbulence knocked him out? did he try to go outside and fix the gear himself? or did he think that it was the end for him and wanted to die on his own and not be destroyed in a wreck? Safest thing would be to stay with the plane and try your best to the end or obviously a parachute
So very sorry for your pain.
Saw a couple of videos from aviators who are familiar with that plane. They offered a couple of theories but one seemed most likely: They knew they'd lost a wheel or the landing gear structure, completely. That plane is expressly designed for skydiving and has a short ramp at the back of the plane from which you would be able to visually inspect the wheel area to see, exactly, the condition of the missing wheel. The theory is that he lowered the ramp – which is quite short and unstable – in an effort to eyeball the damage. If he was not tethered he could have easily fallen out of the plane. Very sad….and, if that's the case, this was completely avoidable. I strongly doubt that this young man just freaked out and jumped out of the plane – he probably just slipped and fell. In fact, in the pics of the plane on the ground that ramp appears to be lowered.
My sympathies.
he should have guzzled a red bull !!! it gives u wings!!
He wouldn't of jumped out on purpose. As others have said he probably fell trying to get the landing gear out.
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Maybe he was thrown out of the plane
How is it that the other pilot didn't bother mentioning that during the mayday calls? Sounds fishy to me…
If he was a flight instructor, I would be afraid of his students.
This man did not want to die. If he wanted to die, all he needed to do was stay on the plane. At that point in time, nobody knew that the plane was going to landing "safely".
How does the pilot not know what happened???