Two flight nurses have been identified as among the four people killed when a 10-seater private jet operated by a California company crashed near San Diego on Monday.
Aeromedevac Air Ambulance’s Learjet 35A crashed into a wire before going off the road in El Cajon. No survivors were found.
Oceanside Firefighters Association identified Tina Ward among the victims in the accident. Tuesday’s Instagram post revealed that Tina Ward was married to Joe Ward, who recently retired as a local chief of fire.
The post stated, “It is with deep hearts that the Oceanside Fire Department, their fire department, and their family would like extend our deepest condolences for our recently retired Chief Ward and his family as well as all the family and friends who were involved in the Aeromedevac flight crew, N880Z,”
Tina Ward, a flight nurse, and Laurie Gentz, a background worker, were identified as the two victims of Monday’s medical plane crash in San Diego.
According to an Instagram posting by the Oceanside Firefighters Association, Ward was married to Joe Ward who retired as Oceanside Fire Chief.
Firefighters work to put out flames on the ground after a small jet plane crashed in unincorporated area in a town about 17 miles east of San Diego
‘Chief Ward’s wife Tina, was a flight nurse on board of the aircraft that crashed last night in El Cajon. This terrible news has shocked us all and we will keep you in our prayers.
Joe Ward was married to Tina Ward for over a decade, and they had three daughters.
The International Association of EMTs and Paramedics (IAEMTP) on Tuesday confirmed Laurie Gentz as one of the victims of the plane accident. Gentz is a registered nurse who has more than 30 year of experience and was also president of her local union.
The Facebook message read: “The IAEP sends deep condolences to Laurie Gentz (Local 162 President), her passengers, and Learjet crew for their sudden and tragic loss early today,” All who had the pleasure of knowing President Gentz and those who have benefited from their selfless efforts to organize labor in San Diego will miss her greatly.
An undated selfie was included with this post, showing Ward, Gentz, and two others standing before the doomed Learjet 35A. It had the tail number of N880Z.
Ward, a former Palomar Pomerado Health nurse and veteran in health care work, was killed while working as an ambulance nurse. Right, she is shown with Joe.
Joe Ward (left) and Tina Ward (right) are shown with their three daughters in this Facebook photo that Tina Ward posted a day prior to her death.
CBS8 reports, citing unnamed source, that the victims included pilots. But it wasn’t confirmed Wednesday by IAEP that the men seen in the IAEP photo were killed Monday.
CBS8 reported that the plane, which was transporting a patient from Arizona, to Orange County, California Monday, was returning to Gillespie Field, when it crashed.
In the meantime, San Diego County Medical Examiner is yet to identify victims.
According to her Facebook page, Tina Ward previously worked as an emergency room nurse at Palomar Pomerado Health.
Laurie Gentz’s LinkedIn profile shows that she joined Aeromedevac Air Ambulance in February as a flight nurse.
For almost a decade, she was also a Rural Metro critical care transport registered nursing nurse.
Laurie Gentz, a nurse transport specialist with over 30 years experience was Laurie Gentz. In February, she joined Aeromedevac Air Ambulance part-time.
Gentz stated in his description that he has over 30 years experience in nursing and more than two and a quarter decades in Critical Care Transport.
Ward’s friends and colleagues have posted messages to Facebook, expressing grief.
Ryan McBride said, “My heart hurts tonight.” “I have lost many amazing colleagues with an incredible company to work for …..” They are the best crew I have ever flown with. It’s because of ALL of you I gained confidence and began to love flying while performing my job as a flight paramedic while assisting Tina, Laurie and all of the other amazing nurses we have with us! It’s so easy to feel safe while flying!
Federal Aviation Administration officials stated that the Learjet plane carried four people, who were from Orange County.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated that it was currently looking into the incident. According to the board, the final report including probable causes will take between 12 and 24 months.
Doorbell footage captures the Learjet 35A speeding towards the ground, before it explodes in El Cajon (California).
As emergency crews worked Monday night to identify victims, the luggage was removed from the site.
This map depicts the exact route taken by the Learjet plane on the way to Gillespie Field, El Cajon (California), which was tragically destroyed in an accident.
Med Jet was the air ambulance service that operated Learjet 35A. It is similar to the one shown above.
On Monday evening, smoke and fire rose above El Cajon in California after a private plane crashed.
The jet, flying out of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, struck power lines before crashing in the area of Pepper Drive and North 2nd Street, at around 7.15pm Monday.
According to National Weather Service data, Gillespie sky conditions were described as “fog/mist” at 6.55pm.
LiveATC.net captured radio communication between the plane and the runway, which indicated an abrupt occurrence of trouble.
Pilot cancelled an approach using instrument flight rules to Runway 27. He requested that Runway 17 be switched to visual flight rules.
The pilot requested that field lights are turned on after the switch was made. He was then given new instructions.
However, in those moments something can go wrong.
‘Oh, s***! Oh, s***! Oh, s***! No!’ “No!”
Footage revealed the wreckage in flames on the roadway, with most of it gone, and pieces of the plane, including landing gear, scattered about the street.
It appeared that the car crashed, igniting in flames just outside of a home.
There was no reported fatality or injury on the ground. However approximately 2,500 residents were still without electricity due to the falling power line.
According to Fire Chief Don Butz, “There’s very little of it left.” We weren’t able find survivors.
The footage is captured by a camera on the doorbell. It shows the moment when the plane is moving towards the ground. A flash then erupts in the dark night sky above El Cajon, California.
After the crash of a plane, El Cajon’s night sky is lit up by a blast. This was captured on Nest cameras
The scene of the accident that resulted in the deaths of all passengers on the aircraft was covered by smoke.
You can see pieces of the plane scattered along the roadway after it burst in the residential neighbourhood last night
Many fire-fighting and law enforcement units were able to put out the flames by 9:15 p.m., El Cajon (California).
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office Lt. Mike Krugh stated that the aircraft crashed into a power line, and it exploded at the ground soon afterward.
Around six San Diego Gas & Electric trucks were in the area working to get power restored amid constant rainfall.
Just before midnight, the majority of customers had power restored, although around 350 people were still without.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, volunteers from American Red Cross will visit people who are still without electricity in the morning and check on their health.
Police reported that the fire had been put out by 9 p.m.
About an hour later, the two chaplains arrived on scene.
Suzie Mercadante, a Lakeside resident was walking her dogs around 7.15pm when the jet crashed to the ground.
She told the Tribune how she saw ‘a blue streak and then a giant big orange ball,’ then ‘the blackest smoke just billowing out.’
Thomas O’Brien, who is just blocks from the spot where the plane crashed onto the street, said that he was on his couch at the time when the turbines of the jet roared across the nightsky.
Although he said he was used to hearing the planes as they fly near Gillespie Field’s runway, a lot of people describe the noise as extremely loud.
O’Brien said to the Tribune that it was 10 times louder then normal. My walls began to shake like it was an earthquake. I stopped breathing. It was a real shock.
O’Brien claimed that he witnessed the jet blast from his back window, and it reflect off of his pool.
A few seconds later, he heard the explosion and the house went dark.
A local resident provided video showing smoke and fire. Livestreaming on Facebook showed the car set ablaze by a home and other debris.
There was no one hurt or injured on the ground. Investigators have been unable to determine the extent of damage due to rainy weather and darkness.
Lauren Watling, Resident, also said that the plane was “really, really loud” as it came in and that she couldn’t see anything after the crash.
She explained to NBC7 that she was outside when the plane came closer.
“Normally, they are louder because we live near the airport. But it got really loud, and all of a sudden we thought it might have hit our powerlines above our home. However, we saw bright blue flashing lights, and heard electricity running.
The plane crashed shortly after. The plane was full of smoke, and we ran for cover.
As authorities continue to investigate, the exact cause of the accident is still unknown. In a few weeks, the NTSB will issue a preliminary report.