OXFORD, Miss. — Six Mississippians have died in a plane crash in Alabama.
The plane was traveling from Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Florida to Oxford.
It crashed into trees as it was approaching a runway at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in Northport, Alabama, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
It happened at about 11:20 a.m. Sunday.
Family members identified two of the victims as Dr. Jason Farese and his wife Dr. Lea Farese. They are dentists at Farese Family Dental in Oxford and have three children.
The plane, a Piper PA-31, is registered to an address that matches that of Farese Family Dental.
Two other dentists and their wives were also on board and died: Dr. Austin Poole and his wife, Angie Poole, along with Dr. Michael Perry and his wife Kim Perry, friends of both couples told WREG.
The group had gone to Florida for a dental seminar.
The Pooles lived in Oxford, and Dr. Austin Poole had a dental office in Clarksdale.
“That just doubled the tragedy in my mind,” Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett said. “Austin and Angie have both been clients of mine as a lawyer and have been friends of mine.”
Luckett also said the Fareses were family to him.
“You wonder what happened. You just kind of put in shock. As far as I know, Jason was a good pilot,” he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the crash.
Friends are asking for prayers for the victims and the 11 children they left behind.
