MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Vaughn Porter and Jaime Redford Rust, a couple from Utah, were killed in a small airplane crash in Northern California.
On October 20, authorities received an alert about an airplane crash at 6:00 pm at a rural location in Airport Road's 2100 block in Covelo, California, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office's statement.
Vaughn Porter has 30 years of experience in flying
Shortly after departing from Round Valley Airport in Covelo, the Beechcraft A-36 plane crashed, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The plane caught fire, and after it was contained, authorities "located the bodies of two deceased individuals," according to the sheriff's office.
The 52-year-old man was a JetBlue pilot with over 30 years of experience in flying, reported People.
Victim's family 'devastated' by fatal crash
According to KHL TV, the family of Porter, whose mother died of Covid-19 in January 2022, said they are "devastated" by his death.
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Speaking of Rust, Porter's son Kyle said, "I feel like we're all mourning her loss just as much as my dad. We cared about her a lot. She cared about us a lot."
The family revealed that Porter's father also died in the 90s in a plane crash.
"He crashed it into the side of a mountain, and my dad, to pay tribute to his father, bought the same type of plane. That’s the plane he crashed in as well," said Kyle.
Porter's other son, Shaun, set up a GoFundMe to raise funds to cover the funeral cost and transport Porter from California to Utah. The family is planning to bury him alongside his late wife.
"After losing our mom unexpectedly last year, our dad stepped up admirably to fill the gaping hole left in our family without her," wrote Shaun.
"Despite this incomprehensible tragedy, he remained positive, always seeking ways to bring joy and togetherness to our lives. He was the heart of our family, and we're now at a complete loss without him," he added.
A separate fundraiser for Rust shared that she leaves behind three children and grandchildren.
"We are deeply saddened to share the devastating news of Jaime's untimely passing in a tragic plane crash alongside her boyfriend," read the GoFundMe description.
"As her family grieves this unimaginable loss, they are faced with the overwhelming burden of funeral expenses…Let's come together to honor Jaime's memory and help her children through this challenging time."
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