Four of the six passengers of a plane that crashed in Michigan Thursday morning are Johnson County residents.
John Lowe, co-owner of The Engineering Collaborative, an Indianapolis engineering firm, chartered the small jet, which flew out of the Indy South Greenwood Airport, to take two employees and a contractor to do a site visit in Lansing, Mich, said Lori Lowe, John’s wife.
The plane crashed about 9 a.m. Thursday just outside the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing.
John Lowe died during the crash, according to a news release from the Clinton County Michigan Sheriff’s Office.
Lowe, 51, graduated from Center Grove High School. His wife of 28 years and 12-year-old son still live in the area, where Lowe also coached football and wrestling, Lori Lowe said.
Neil Sego, 46, of Trafalgar, also an employee at The Engineering Collaborative and an Indian Creek wresting coach; and Timothy Clark, 67, of Franklin, died in the crash as well.
John Beavins, 48, of Franklin; Aaron Blackford, 42, of Frankton, also an employee of the engineering firm; and Zechariah Bennett, 27, of Plainfield, are in critical condition at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, where they were taken after the crash, the news release said.
It is unclear what caused the crash, but it occurred during landing, about 125 yards from the airport’s perimeter, said Spencer Flynn, a spokesperson for the Capital Region International Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating, according to an airport news release.
The plane left the Indy South Greenwood Airport about 8 a.m., Lori Lowe said.
“We were deeply saddened to hear about yesterday’s tragedy,” Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
