A tragic sky disaster claimed the lives of a Louisiana doctor and his two soon-to-be college graduates. Dr. Lucius Doucet III and his children Giselle and Jean-Luc Doucet perished when their Beechcraft V35 plummeted in Tennessee, confirmed by Williamson Cosmetic Center where the beloved physician worked. The aircraft, which the doctor himself piloted, was reported to have broken up mid-air on its course from Gonzales, Louisiana, to Louisville, Kentucky, as reported by ABC News.
Witnesses witnessed both wings go backward before the plane crashed violently, according to National Transportation Safety Board investigator Aaron McCarter. Setting out on Wednesday morning, the small plane faced catastrophe near Franklin. As recounted by Dr. Doucet's employer, the crash snatched away an "exceptional surgeon" and "compassionate man," while LSU confirmed they were mourning two of their own who were on the cusp of graduation, according to ABC News.
Giselle and Jean-Luc, who were LSU seniors majoring in veterinary medicine and engineering, respectively, were recognized for their pending achievements with a statement that the institution was heartbroken, especially for those connected closely with the students. This sentiment was echoed when their participation in commencement ceremonies was promised, as mentioned by Linda Ikeji's Blog.
The widespread wreckage, covering a mile-long field, indicates a brutal mid-air disintegration, as described by Williamson County Sheriff's Office's Chief Deputy Mark Elrod. Pivoting to forensic investigation, The FAA and the NTSB are probing the distressing event. While the weather may not have directly caused the crash, it was considered a factor, McCarter emphasized, hinting at the complex dance of fate and physics that led to this loss, the news provided by ABC News.
Emergency calls reporting an explosion on May 15, just past midday, marked the beginning of a grim search and recovery effort. Recordings from Air Traffic Control painted a chaotic picture of the plane's last moments, with attempts to reach the plummeting aircraft fruitless. The voice from the tower registered a silent dread: "It sounds like contact lost," capturing the unforeseen tragedy that rendered a day of travel into a collective mourning for the Doucet family and beyond, as detailed by Linda Ikeji's Blog.
