Authorities say Charles Crooks either jumped or fell out of the plane 20 miles from the airport where his co-pilot made an emergency landing after the plane’s landing gear malfunctioned. Crooks’ father said the family is still in shock as multiple agencies are still investigating the incident. WRAL’s Keenan Willard reports.
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The co pilot fell to his death when he was trying to fix the landing gear and the pilot was the one who told the kid to look and see if the landing was down and could be fixed.
Very sad.
Any more info on what happened?
I hope they get resolution.🙏❤️
He obviously crawled onto the ramp to check on the landing gear. He didn’t have a safety harness on which would have saved his life.
Super weird to have fuquay in the news. He landed down the street from my house. I didn't know why the helicopters were circling when I got off work until I saw my news alerts. I feel so bad for his family. I hope they figure out why this happened.
Only a nut or druggie would jump from a plane sans parachute.
The one thing Missing Here… The Truth!!!…
My condolences to your family. 🙏
This wasn’t suicide! He was clearly assessing the issue, and he was sucked out. He wanted everyone to land safely, which is why he wanted to see what was going on. This is absolutely heartbreaking. This definitely needs to be investigated further, because believe it or not, the cause of death DOES matter to his loved ones. It’s a lot different putting down “suicide” instead of “accidental.”
Rest In Peace.
The landing gear malfunction is the tell – he was likely trying to get eyes the condition of the gear, which on that plane would mean hanging out of the door, and he fell.
My heart goes out to the family 🥺
I am having trouble thinking that anyone could imagine this young man was doing anything but trying to do a visual check on the landing gear. This was tragic. The pilot had his own problems with the plane and it is doubtful that watching the copilot was one of them. Each man was doing his job in a terrifying situation. Any movement of the plane could have caused Charles to fall.
This story has more holes than Swiss cheese
He didn’t jump from the plane. I think he might have been pushed.
Why doesn’t this report show the story of the pilot? What has he said happened?
How tragic for family to have to wonder. Maybe he freaked out? Maybe there is something we don't know? Lovers quarrel in sky? Trying to look to see what problem? Who just jumps out of plane? This is sketchy. Cameras need to be EVERYWHERE to watch what happens? How sad. RIP.
As a parent, I don't see how you you can respond to these morons expecting an interview. As a human being, I don't see how you can be a reporter and expect a parent to care to respond.
There is scum at the bottom of the ocean and somewhere below that are people who work in the media.
Just say what the pilot saw, why dotheytakethis longto at least let the parent know right away. So ridiculous of the pilot to not at least talk to the parents right away
It could be he was inspecting or trying to get the landing gear unstuck when he fell out the cargo door.
I hate flying. I flew all the time when I was in the service. I never liked or got used to it. Once those wheels leave the ground it's out of your hands.
Aren't you supposed to use a parachute when you go skydiving?
Maybe he thought he could fly…
He booked it…fear can make people go crazy
Maybe they could figure out what happened if they could identify and interrogate the pilot who landed. That might help.
Some comment how the pilot was silent when reporting the emergency landing. But he/she maybe in shock, can you imagine holding your nerve to land a plane without landing gear and your co-pilot falls or jumps? The young man may have panicked and thought he coukd survive the fall rather than potential crash? I'm sure more info will come out. It's very sad.
I was trying to figure this out like why would he even be opening the door he was checking the landing gear but they'd modernize some of these planes even if they're older with cameras
This reminds me of the Richard Russel story smh poor fella I'm so sorry, love and hugs to him and his loved ones💙💙
Facts.
The cargo door was closed, not open. The cargo door is opened or closed from the cockpit.
The wheels are fixed, and do not retract or extend, and cannot be malfunctioning. If a wheel is missing, due to mechanical or accidental cause, the incident was not reported by the 'surviving' pilot. Any such incident would have been heavy enough for both pilots to realise there was damage.
The victim's body fell at 4000 ft, a very long time before landing. This was not reported by the 'surviving' pilot at the time.
The flight had an "out of control moment" at 11,000 ft. That incident was not reported at the time.
The view for the 'surviving' pilot of the cargo door, is clear at all times.
The position of the co pilot is always visible in any position on the aircraft.
The identity of the 'surviving' pilot was kept secret – check the protocols of secret societies linked to the media and the authorities.
The victim was intelligent and trained, one who knew the dangers of the cargo door, and would not do anything as rumoured.
The victim's flying records were sound.
The 'surviving' pilot used the term "we" for an unnatural number of times, and with unusual intonation in his communication with ATC.
The incident occurred up to half an hour before landing and was not reported at the time.
The wheels cannot be checked from the cargo door without enormous risk. The victim would not have attempted that, and neither would any pilot expect that action from another. The wheels can be visually checked from the cockpit. Proven by the fact that the 'surviving' pilot reported it, identifying the right side wheel.
(An alternative procedure for landing gear inspection is to do a low flyover of airport at request.)
Missing landing gear in this type of aircraft is not a grave danger.
Saying that the victim was suicidal and in a panic is false. It cannot be both. If the 'surviving' pilot noticed panic or stress in the victim, he would have taken action to keep him safe, and requested help with ground control.
Saying that the victim was young and foolish, is false, because he could not have passed pilot training without developing a balanced and cautious attitude in all his actions.
There was no reason to check the landing gear from the cargo door, there was no way of fixing the landing gear while flying.
Wife: Hey, honey. Can you go pull some weeds in the back?
Husband: Sure.
Finds dead body.
THOUGHT OF FIERY CRASH
HE PANICED AND JUMPED
ITS VERY SIMPLE EXPLAINATION
Guy did not jump. Either this was an accident or not. Why is thd other pilot not saying anything?
Such a handsome happy looking young man. So sad for him. Sad for his family too. Best wishes to them.
Well he was definitely aware for awhile that he was going to die. That alone would be horrible. Just falling and completely aware you're going to die