A man who men who went to space aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin with actor William Shatner on the voyage last month died in a plane crash.
Authorities say Glen de Vries died Thursday in a small plane crash. De Vries and Thomas P. Fischer were the only two involved and killed in the crash. The plane reportedly went down in Sussex County, New Jersey. The FAA is still investigating what happened.
“Such a tragic loss. Warm and full of life, Glen made us laugh and lit up the room. He was a visionary, and an innovator – a true leader,” Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said on Twitter, adding he was “heartbroken”.
Blue Origin released a statement, saying, “We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries. He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”
Prior to their flight, Bezos, his brother Mark and two others had gone up in a Blue Origin test mission.
De Vries was just 49- year-old. Both De Vries and Thomas Fischer, 54, were aboard the single-engine Cessna 172 that went down on Thursday in a wooded area of Hampton Township. It was Blue Origin’s second flight after Mr. Bezos ventured into space in July.
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