Braxton Taylor
Seven friends who were returning from a waterfowl hunting trip in Kansas were among those killed in a plane crash earlier this week in Washington, D.C.
The outfitter who guided the group, Fowl Plains, posted about the tragedy on Facebook.
“We’ve always said our clients are more than friends. They’re family. Last night we lost 7 family members in the horrific plane crash. 7 family members we’ve had the privilege to hunt with the last few years,” the outfitter wrote.
“We’ve spent this past week, sharing the blind, laughing, talking about our families, and sharing memories. We are completely heartbroken,” the post continued. “Please pray for the families, friends and for our 3 other hunters in the group who were driving home.”
The group totaled 10, but three of the hunters decided to drive back to the D.C. area for easier transport of their hunting dogs and shotguns.
The seven who died in the plane crash are Jesse Pitcher, 30; Michael Stovall, 40; Steve Johnson, 45; Alexander Huffman, 34; Charles McDaniel, 44; Jonathan Boyd, 40 and Tommy Clagget, 38, according to the Wichita Eagle.
Friends and family have expressed their grief as well as their appreciation for the lives these men lived.
“One of the best men I ever met, Jesse Pitcher…what a huge loss last night,” Pitcher’s father-in-law, Rudi Reichel wrote. “Jesse, you were the best thing that ever happened to my daughter Kylie Jo. You will be missed dearly my man!”
The Southern Maryland Youth Organization posted their gratitude for Michael (Mikey) Stovall’s service to the local youth baseball league.
“Mikey Stovall could often be found at the field coaching his son and his team. He was more than a coach—he was a true volunteer, always willing to lend a hand, and all the while doing it with a smile on his face,” the group said. “He touched so many lives and will never, ever be forgotten. His legacy will live on in the lives he touched, the youth he mentored, and the impact he made by simply showing up.”
A fishing guide service in Maryland, Restless Lady II Sportfishing, expressed their appreciation for Steve Johnson, who was a regular client.
“He was not only a valued client to the RL2, but was also a dear friend to our captain and mates, who shared many great moments with him on the water, his presence, kindness, and love for the sea will truly be missed,” they wrote.
The plane crash occurred Wednesday night over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. A regional American Airlines jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members.
Officials have concluded that there were no survivors. It is the first commercial plane crash in the United States since 2009. It is unclear what caused the collision, but video of the incident has been widely circulated online.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the families of the victims, which you can find here.
Images via Fowl Plains Facebook
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