Pickleball team killed in plane crash in the US – media
Kyiv • UNN
A plane carrying players from the Amarillo club crashed near Wimberley, killing five people. NTSB and FAA investigators are currently determining the cause of the accident.
A plane crash occurred in the United States, resulting in the deaths of four players from the Amarillo pickleball club and the pilot. The team was heading to a tournament in Texas. This was reported by Fox News, according to UNN.
Details
According to Fox News, the plane crashed near the city of Wimberley, approximately 40 miles from Austin. Before the crash, a dispatcher reported that the aircraft "began to move erratically" before disappearing from radar. An emergency locator transmitter signal was also detected.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are working at the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Five people died as a result of the accident: Amarillo club players Hayden Dillard, Seren Wilson, Brooke Skypala, and Stacey Hedrick, as well as pilot Justin Appling, who was also a pickleball player.
According to acquaintances, the victims were active participants in tournaments and were well-known in the community.
"The pickleball world is extremely small... and when a tragedy like this happens, it feels like a blow to the entire community," noted another player, Sarah Lister.
Additionally, the plane was heading to the tournament along with other participants, some of whom were on a different flight and landed safely. The investigation into the causes of the air crash is currently ongoing.
Reference
Pickleball is a racket sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.