Melanie Georger of Towanda, New York, dies in tragic skydiving flight crash
Fatal skydiving flight crash near Niagara Falls claims the life of Melanie Georger from Towanda, New York – Obituary
On Sunday, officials released the identity of Melanie Georger, a 26-year-old pilot who tragically perished when her single-engine Cessna crashed after her passengers had exited the aircraft.
Georger, who was alone on board at the time of the accident, was pursuing her dream of becoming a commercial pilot, according to her father’s statement posted on Facebook.
In a heartfelt tribute, Paul Georger expressed his grief: “My beloved daughter, my best friend, and one of the two lights of my life passed away suddenly today. Melanie was on the brink of achieving her dream of flying for the airlines. She was doing what she loved, flying for a local skydiving company, when her plane crashed.”
The skydiving company, Skydive the Falls, which was involved in the flight, has yet to respond to inquiries sent via email and social media.
A phone call placed to the company’s listed number was abruptly disconnected. The company is known for offering scenic flights over Niagara Falls prior to skydives.
Jeffrey Walker, a skydiver who had been on a flight with Georger just before the crash, expressed his shock and sorrow. “I feel blessed to be alive and I am deeply saddened that her life was cut short,” Walker said, reflecting on the surreal nature of the incident.
He noted that he had no concerns about the young pilot’s abilities, praising her for her supportive and encouraging demeanor before his own jump.
“I admire her for pursuing her passion,” Walker added. “It’s unfortunate for the company she was working for, as they provided excellent training and were a great team.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the crash involved a single-engine Cessna 208B. The plane went down near Youngstown, just under 15 miles from Niagara Falls. The National Transportation Safety Board will oversee the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Fatal skydiving flight crash near Niagara Falls claims the life of Melanie Georger from Towanda, New York – Obituary On Sunday, officials released the identity of Melanie Georger, a 26-year-old pilot who tragically perished when her single-engine Cessna crashed after her passengers had exited the aircraft. Georger, who was alone on board at the time…
Fatal skydiving flight crash near Niagara Falls claims the life of Melanie Georger from Towanda, New York – Obituary On Sunday, officials released the identity of Melanie Georger, a 26-year-old pilot who tragically perished when her single-engine Cessna crashed after her passengers had exited the aircraft. Georger, who was alone on board at the time…