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Tragic flights: Celebrities who lost their lives in air crashes -

On January 4th, German-born actor Christian Oliver was flying between islands in the Caribbean with his two young daughters when a terrible accident occurred. The trio were on a winter vacation and left Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to head to the island of St. Lucia, flown in a small plane by pilot Robert Sachs. Shortly after takeoff, the plane ran into difficulties and plummeted straight into the ocean. There were no survivors. Oliver was 51 years old, while his daughters Madita and Annik were just 10 and 12 years of age. The bodies were recovered from the scene of the crash, but the cause of the tragic incident is still under investigation. 

Jessica Klepser, Oliver's ex-wife and the mother of Madita and Annik, released a statement a few days after their deaths. “The deep bond, infectious laughter, and adventurous spirit shared by Madita and Annik will be profoundly missed in their communities," she wrote via the Instagram page of the Pilates studio where she works. The couple got married in 2010 but filed for divorce after 10 years. Oliver had a prolific acting career and appeared in movies like 'The Baby Sitters Club' (1995), 'Speed Racer' (2008), 'Valkyrie' (2009), and the TV series 'Sense8.'

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Joe Lara (1962-2021) and Gwen Shamblin Lara (1955-2021) -

Joe Lara, known for his role in the '90s television show 'Tarzan: The Epic Adventures,' and his wife Gwen Shamblin Lara, the founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church, tragically lost their lives in a plane accident on May 29, 2021. The crash occurred in Tennessee's Percy Priest Lake. They were flying on a Cessna C501 jet along with five others, including their son-in-law. Joe and Gwen were aged 58 and 66 at the time of the incident.

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Bessie Coleman (1892–1926) -

Coleman, the first African-American and Native American woman to obtain a pilot license, tragically lost her life at 2,000 ft. She was ejected from her aircraft when it went into a spin, and was killed instantly when she hit the ground. 

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James Horner (1953–2015) -

James Horner, a highly esteemed composer of film music in Hollywood and a two-time Academy Award winner, sadly passed away in a tragic airplane accident. Horner's score for James Cameron's 'Titanic' remains the top-selling orchestral film soundtrack to date.

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Ronnie Van Zant (1948–1977) -

Van Zant, a key member and lead singer of the renowned rock band Lynryd Skynyrd, tragically lost his life in a plane crash. The fatal accident occurred when the aircraft he was aboard ran out of fuel, causing it to collide with a tree. This unfortunate incident also claimed the lives of fellow band members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, as well as assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. The surviving band members sustained severe injuries.

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Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–1990) -

Renowned blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan tragically perished in a helicopter accident that also resulted in the deaths of four other people on board the aircraft. The incident occurred in close proximity to East Troy, Wisconsin, soon after departure.

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John Denver (1943–1997) -

John Denver, a singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer, tragically died in a plane crash while flying his experimental aircraft, a Rutan Long-EZ plane, in Monterey Bay, California. Denver was killed instantly.

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Marília Mendonça (1995 - 2021) -

The untimely demise of Marilia Mendonça, a promising young Brazilian vocalist, transpired in a devastating crash that claimed the lives of two fellow passengers and two pilots. The incident took place on Friday, November 5th, 2021, as she was en route to a performance in Minas Gerais alongside her uncle and producer. She was 26 years old. 

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Rocky Marciano (1923–1969) -

Marciano, the world heavyweight champion from 1952 to 1956, tragically died in a plane accident. The incident occurred when his plane, carrying his childhood friend Frankie Farrell and pilot Glenn Blez, crashed into a tree while attempting to land in unfavorable weather conditions at a small airfield near Newton, Iowa.

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Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) -

The Norwegian adventurer achieved the historic feat of reaching the South Pole, only to tragically perish during a rescue operation when his aircraft vanished. Shortly after, the remnants of the plane were discovered, though his remains were never found.

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Buddy Holly (1936–1959) -

A key figure in the rock and roll scene of the mid-1950s, Holly tragically passed away in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft took off.

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The Big Bopper (1930–1959) and Ritchie Valens (1941–1959) -

Buddy Holly, along with J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens, were all killed in the same crash. The pilot, Roger Peterson, also perished. This unfortunate event became known as "The Day the Music Died."

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Frederick Banting (1891-1941) -

The Canadian renowned for discovering insulin tragically died from the injuries he sustained in an airplane crash, despite initially surviving. He passed away the next day.

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Patsy Cline (1932–1963) -

Renowned for her exceptional singing abilities, Cline tragically lost her life in a fatal accident in Camden, Tennessee. The plane was being piloted by her manager, Randy Hughes. Interestingly, Hughes' flight instructor, Elmo Merriwether, had previously trained Jim Reeves, who tragically experienced a similar fate the next year.

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Otis Redding (1941–1967) -

Regarded by many as one of the finest vocalists in the annals of American mainstream music, Redding and his ensemble were en route to Madison, Wisconsin when their aircraft tragically crashed into Lake Monona. In addition to the star, the pilot, Redding's manager, and four musicians from the supporting band perished. The sole fortunate survivor was trumpeter Ben Cauley.

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Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) -

The Puerto Rican baseball player passed away while on a cargo plane heading towards Nicaragua to assist earthquake victims. The plane crashed due to an engine malfunction and unfortunately, his body was not recovered.

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Will Rogers (1879–1935) -

Will Rogers, a successful actor, entertainer, and humorist, passed away along with pilot Wily Post after their small plane crashed in northern Alaska.

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Carole Lombard (1908–1942) -

Carole Lombard, the highest-earning Hollywood actress of the late 1930s, tragically lost her life in a plane crash on Mount Potosi, Nevada, along with 21 other passengers. They were returning from a war bond tour.

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Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (1915–1944) -

Lt. Joe Jr., a United States Navy officer, tragically lost his life during World War II in a classified operation. Unlike his Kennedy siblings, he never pursued a career in politics.

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Glenn Miller (1904–1944) -

During World War II, the aircraft of the renowned big-band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader vanished in inclement weather over the English Channel. Lieutenant Colonel Norman Baessell and pilot John Morgan, who were also on board, also lost their lives.

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Mike Todd (1909–1958) -

Film producer Mike Todd, seen in this photo with his wife Elizabeth Taylor, died in a private plane accident near Grants, New Mexico. The crash also claimed the lives of screenwriter and author Art Cohn, pilot Bill Verner, and copilot Tom Barclay.

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John Kennedy Jr (1960–1999) and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (1966-1999) -

JFK's son, along with his wife Carolyn and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette, tragically lost their lives when their plane crashed into the Atlantic while they were heading to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The Kennedy curse strikes once more.

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Jim Reeves (1923-1964) -

Jim Reeves was flying his own private plane to Nashville when he got caught up in a terrible storm, causing him to crash in Brentwood, Tennessee. Unfortunately, Dean Manuel, the country music singer-songwriter's business partner and manager, also died in the accident.

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Audie Murphy (1925–1971) -

Audie Murphy, an esteemed soldier from World War II and renowned actor, tragically lost his life in a plane crash on Brush Mountain in Catawba, Virginia. The pilot and four other passengers aboard the private plane also met a similar fate.

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Bill Barilko (1927-1951) -

The Canadian NHL prodigy was returning from a fishing trip when the plane he was on vanished. Remarkably, the wreckage was discovered a staggering 11 years later.

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Jim Croce (1943–1973) -

Croce, a folk and rock singer-songwriter, had recently finished a performance in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Tragically, the plane crashed during takeoff, resulting in his untimely death along with five others.

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Aaliyah (1979–2001) -

Superstar Aaliyah Dana Haughton and eight others tragically lost their lives in a plane crash after making the music video for the song 'Rock the Boat' in the Bahamas. The rising star was just 22 years old. 

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Ricky Nelson (1940–1985) -

During the 1950s, the musician and actor, renowned as a beloved "teen idol," tragically lost his life along with his bandmates in a plane crash in De Kalb, Texas. Helen Blair, Nelson's companion, also perished in the unfortunate incident.

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Payne Stewart (1957–1999) -

In a highly unusual aviation incident, professional golfer Payne Stewart and everyone onboard lost their lives when a Learjet suffered from depressurization while flying to Houston, rendering them all incapacitated from hypoxia. Despite the crew's inability to function, the aircraft remained on autopilot until it exhausted its fuel and ultimately crashed in a field close to Mina, South Dakota.

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John T. Walton (1946–2005) -

John Walton, the son of Walmart's founder, passed away when the plane he was flying crashed near Jackson, Wyoming. The investigation revealed that a faulty repair led to the loss of control during the flight.

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Corey Lidle (1972–2006) -

MLB player Corey Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger were operating a Cirrus SR20 aircraft when it collided with the Belaire Apartments complex in New York City, causing injuries to twenty-six individuals and killing Lidle.

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Steve Fossett (1944–2007) -

Fossett, a renowned aviator, sailor, and explorer, shocked the aviation community with his untimely demise. His aircraft vanished over the Great Basin Desert in 2007, leading to his legal declaration of death in February 2008.

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Thurman Munson (1947–1979) -

Thurman Munson, a professional baseball player, tragically lost his life while practice landing his Cessna at Akron-Canton Airport. The New York Yankees catcher was accompanied by two others who managed to survive the accident.

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Troy Gentry (1967–2017) -

Gentry, a member of the widely known country music duo Montgomery Gentry, tragically passed away in a helicopter accident during a tour in Medford, New Jersey.

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Roy Halladay (1977–2017) -

The pitcher was operating an amphibious plane that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Florida. Air traffic controllers received three distress signals before the accident occurred.

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Lt Thomas E Selfridge (1882–1908) -

Selfridge, a passenger on a demonstration flight led by Orville Wright, became the first casualty from the US military in an on-duty crash. The incident is pictured here. 

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Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) -

The famous aviator Amelia Earhart's plane vanished in 1937 over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island, which is still a perplexing mystery in the aviation world. Two years later, she was officially declared dead.

See also: Mystery solved? A look at Amelia Earhart’s life and disappearance

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