A North Carolina family of four was killed in a plane crash while returning home from a beach vacation, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The single-engine Cirrus SR22 they were traveling in went down in a wooded area near Sanford on Monday, according to a post by Fox News Digital. The fatal incident claimed the lives of Travis and Candace Buchanan, both 35, and their children, Aubrey, 10, and Walker, 9.
Grace Christian Sanford School, where the children, Aubrey and Walker, were students, shared their grief of the family's passing in a Facebook post, stating, "Students Aubrey (rising 5th) and Walker (rising 4th) along with their parents, Travis and Candace, went to be with the Lord today." The school expressed solidarity and provided support to the family's relatives and friends during an incredibly difficult time.
The plane crash took place around 1:45 p.m., and the FAA has begun an investigation. The aircraft was last tracked near Sanford at approximately 1:30 p.m., just before the crash, as reported by Yahoo News. The North Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed that all four passengers aboard died, with three pronounced dead at the scene and one passing away at a local hospital.
Buchanan Farms, owned by the deceased couple, commemorated the family in a post on their Facebook page, showcasing the close-knit family bond. The local community has felt the resonance of the tragedy, with businesses from restaurants to photographers expressing sorrow and recalling their personal connections to the Buchanan family. Los Charros Mexican Restaurant, for instance, shared a touching tribute to the Buchanan family, whom they considered friends and not just customers.
As investigations by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) proceed, the precise cause of the crash remains undetermined. An NTSB spokesperson told Fox News Digital that it is very early in the investigation, and there isn't much information available at this time. The disaster has undeniably left a void in the Sanford community, touching the hearts of many who knew the Buchanans not only as a family but as integral members of their local fabric.
