Teen dies attempting to fly around the world

[fast89pony]

This sucks...

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/spokeswoman-indiana-teen-pilot-dies-crash-24684228

Spokeswoman: Indiana Teen Pilot Dies in Crash
INDIANAPOLIS — Jul 23, 2014, 4:36 PM ET



An Indiana teenager who was attempting to set a record for an around-the-world flight has died in a crash over the Pacific Ocean, a family spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Annie Hayat said the plane flown by 17-year-old Haris Suleman went down shortly after leaving Pago Pago in American Samoa Tuesday night. Suleman and his father, Babar Suleman, were on board.

Hayat said the body of Haris Suleman had been recovered, but crews were still looking for his father.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor in Los Angeles said the single-engine Hawker Beechcraft plane crashed into the ocean Tuesday night under unknown circumstances. The tail number provided by the FAA shows the plane is registered to a limited liability corporation whose address matches Babar Suleman's home address in Plainfield, Indiana, west of Indianapolis.

U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie said witnesses reported seeing the Honolulu-bound plane crash about a mile from shore shortly after taking off from Pago Pago International Airport.

The Sulemans left the state on June 19 in hopes of making the trip in 30 days to set the record for the fastest circumnavigation around the world in a single-engine airplane with the youngest pilot in command to do so. The trip was also raising money for the Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit that builds schools in Pakistan.

They planned to return home Sunday.

Harris Suleman told The Indianapolis Star earlier this month that he enjoyed every stop along the trip. The Sulemans had made stops throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific.

"There is so much beauty and culture in each country that I couldn't possibly witness all that I want to in the span of two days," he said in an email to the newspaper. "That's the maximum time we've been able to spend at a stop."

 

[Goonie]

What a complete bummer.

 

[av8or91]

Not to be confused with this guy who completed his around the world journey just last week I believe.

http://kdvr.com/2014/07/15/teen-becomes-youngest-pilot-to-complete-solo-trip-around-the-world/

 

[Murdoughnut]

Life cut short just to set some arbitrary record. Personally, I think this youngest pilot to .... Bravo Sierra should be heavily discouraged. "Hey - let's take a new pilot, send them around the world, and give them the ultimate in 'get there 'itis'. Jesus Christ - if you really want to kill a kid, just give them an ATV already.

 

[jskibo]

Life cut short just to set some arbitrary record. Personally, I think this youngest pilot to .... Bravo Sierra should be heavily discouraged. "Hey - let's take a new pilot, send them around the world, and give them the ultimate in 'get there 'itis'. Jesus Christ - if you really want to kill a kid, just give them an ATV already.

Sad....

But I thought we stopped these stunts when the 8 year old (or whatever she was) died with her flight instructor

 

[BravoHotel]

Sad....

But I thought we stopped these stunts when the 8 year old (or whatever she was) died with her flight instructor

That was awhile back IIRC. New generation of people to rehash old mistakes. Sad day indeed. RIP.

 

[Bumblebee]

people do all sorts of things that are risky for thrills...RIP...glad you went after your dreams.

 

[Ajax]

Sad....

But I thought we stopped these stunts when the 8 year old (or whatever she was) died with her flight instructor

I hoped it had

 

[ChasenSFO]

Oh man...how the kid's father must have felt when he realized the situation they had gotten into. All bad.

 

[DubyaDawg]

I realize this isn't the point of the whole thing, and prayers out to everyone involved... But it sounds like they were also in a Bonanza? I guess there's something that makes it adept for round-the-world record attempts for teenagers?

 

[z987k]

I guess it's sad that they died, but I'm happy there are still people out there that are interested in fun and adventure in an airplane.

 

[fholbert]

I don't see the attraction to flying around the world in anything.

 

[z987k]

I don't see the attraction to flying around the world in anything.

Well there's not much above 1k worth checking out either but we have a thread about your highest flight level.

 

[flyboy6585]

Sad....

But I thought we stopped these stunts when the 8 year old (or whatever she was) died with her flight instructor

There is a significant difference between an 8 year old girl and a 17 year old guy with his father.

Since the dawn of time people have been trying to do things that will make history remember them. Some succeed, others don't, but the point is that people are going to continue to try. I don't see very much difference between this and the extreme sports that so many find thrilling. How many young people are permanently disabled or injured from football, dirtbikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc?

 

[WestIndian425]

If a person lives his life fulfilling his dream, I won't criticize them. I admire the young man's ambition to try to fly around the world, even though others have done it before him. For some it's a boring endeavor, but to him, he was leaving his mark on the world and in the history books. It's a terrible loss for the aviation community, for sure, but I think it's wrong to knock him for trying, especially when his ambition is a positive one. That's like knocking others for climbing the 7 summits, or going back into the moon, or outer space, when these things have been done before.

 

[flyinguitar]

I've been feeling less and less willing to operate singles unless in an environment where I have lots of options in case of engine trouble. This makes me even more nervous. Not that it's new information.

 

[flyinguitar]

And I guess we don't really know what the cause was yet; it might not have been engine-related.

 

[HVYMETALDRVR]

It takes balls to make a trip like that, esp in a single. I've always wanted to do it in something slow enough to enjoy the scenery. Someday I will, I admire they're determination.

RIP

 

[CaptBill]

Sad to hear.

Laurence Gonzales wrote a book called Deep Survival that talks about who lives, who dies and why. It is very revealing about the way we think and puts lots of perspective on stuff like this.
Highly Recommended.

 

[jwp_145]

I don't see the attraction to flying around the world in anything.

Ya I bet you are loads of fun to hang around with too... negative arsed nancy. I suppose we should just call you Eeyore