Plane Crash Investigation Continues

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 6, 2010 4:20PM

Authorities continue to investigate yesterday's crash of a cargo jet in Wheeling that killed the pilot and the co-pilot, trying to gather as much evidence from the scene before tonight's winter storm rolls in. The jet, owned by Royal Air Charter of Waterford, Michigan, had departed from suburban Detroit and was on its approach to Chicago Executive Airport when it went down in a forest preserve almost two miles south of the airport (the plane's final destination was to be Atlanta). Authorities have not yet identified the two people who died in the crash; the bodies are in the Des Plaines River and the river's current prevented their recovery. While the NTSB continues its investigation, Robert Mark, a pilot who landed at the airport shortly after the crash, told the Tribune he believes the jet experienced a classic stall.

The Tribune also reports today that the jet that crashed yesterday had to turn back during a flight last week, returning to Oakland County International Airport instead of completing the 90 minute flight to Wheeling. Meanwhile, ABC 7 has details on Royal Air Charter, including its history of safety violation fines and a few crashes.