Mark Anderson, a 62-year-old pilot from Alabama, and his two daughters, Lain, 22, and Ellie, 17, tragically lost their lives when their twin-engine plane crashed in the remote Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. The crash was discovered on Saturday after a report of a possible downed aircraft. The pilot and two other occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Powell County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) was alerted of the possible downed aircraft on Friday afternoon, according to a Facebook post. The plane was found at 9 a.m. Saturday. The PCSO stated that the downed aircraft was located in a remote, wooded area in Youngs Creek in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, northeast of Seeley Lake. The pilot and two other occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Monte Sano Baptist Church, located in Huntsville, Alabama, shared that Mark, Lainey, and Ellie Anderson were missing prior to their discovery. The church posted that Mark was an experienced pilot and that they were holding onto hope that he made a safe landing in a remote area before the trio was found. Mark was 62, Lainey was 22, and Ellie was 17, according to the New York Post.
Sanders Aviation also took to Facebook to say that Lainey was one of its certified flight instructors and was on a family vacation in Montana. The post said that Lainey was tragically killed when the twin engine Aztec her father was flying developed engine problems not far from their destination in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, asking for prayers for her mother named Misty.
PCSO said it turned over the plane crash investigation to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Both agencies said via email to Fox News Digital that they are not responding to routine media inquiries due to the government shutdown.
The incident has sparked a wave of condolences and sorrow within the community, with many sharing memories of the victims and praying for the families affected. As the investigation continues, the community remains in mourning, hoping for answers and closure for the grieving families.