Four people tragically lost their lives in a small plane crash in Vermont on Sunday, according to Vermont State Police.
The victims have been identified as Paul Pelletier, 55; Frank Rodriguez, 88; Susan Van Ness, 51; and Delilah Van Ness, 15.
Paul Pelletier was an aerospace and manufacturing teacher at Middletown Public Schools in Connecticut, the district confirmed in a statement. Delilah Van Ness, a sophomore, was one of his students, while Susan Van Ness was her mother.
“This heartbreaking loss has left a profound void in our hearts and our community,” said Alberto Vázquez Matos, superintendent of Middletown Public Schools. “Paul, Delilah, and Susan were extraordinary individuals whose absence is already deeply felt across the district and city.”
Authorities have not yet clarified Frank Rodriguez’s relationship to the other victims.
According to media, Delilah had been taking flight lessons with Pelletier.
The group took off from Windham Airport in Connecticut on Sunday morning in a privately owned four-seat aircraft, flying for about two hours to Basin Harbor Airport in Ferrisburgh, Vermont. After having brunch, they departed around noon to return to Connecticut.
A witness reported seeing the plane on the runway at approximately 12:15 p.m., Vermont State Police said.
No distress calls or reports of a crash were received, but when the plane failed to return to Connecticut, concerned family members alerted authorities.
Shortly after midnight on Monday, investigators discovered the wreckage of the plane in a wooded area near the airport in Vermont. All four occupants were found deceased.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The cause has not yet been determined.
In response to the tragedy, Middletown High School will remain closed on Tuesday. Crisis teams will be available to provide counseling and support for students, staff, and the wider school community.
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“As we navigate this time of profound grief, Middletown Public Schools calls for unity and support,” the district stated. “We aim to honor the legacies of Paul, Delilah, and Susan by continuing to uphold their values of compassion, dedication, and kindness.”
