North Carolina pilot who died in fall from plane jumped out, air traffic controllers say

close

Video

Traffic control calls 911 after North Carolina man falls from plane

A 911 call shows a North Carolina pilot may have jumped from his plane.

The North Carolina pilot who died after falling out of a plane actually jumped out of the aircraft, according to a recording of a 911 call his co-pilot made after the incident.

Charles Hew Crooks, 23, was flying a 10-person aircraft with only one other co-pilot on board when he fell to his death on July 29. It was initially unclear whether he fell out of the plane or jumped of his own accord. A recording of a 911 call from air traffic controllers indicates the man jumped, however.

Controllers made the call to police shortly after speaking with the remaining co-pilot. They indicated that the co-pilot had told them that Crooks had jumped out of the damaged plane, leaving the co-pilot to conduct an emergency landing.

"We have a pilot that was inbound to the field," a controller said on the call, according to WNCN. "His co-pilot jumped out of the aircraft. He made impact to the ground and here are the coordinates."

FRONTIER FLIGHT DIVERTED TO RALEIGH AFTER UNRULY PASSENGER'S MELTDOWN CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Wake County Emergency Management chief of operations Darshan Patel speaks with a group of reporters on July 29, 2022. (Wake County Government/Twitter)

Authorities say the plane suffered damage to its fuselage and its landing gear at some point prior to the emergency landing.

NORTH CAROLINA MAN CHARGED IN KILLING OF FORT BRAGG SOLDIER

Police are still investigating the incident and have not made a final determination on whether Crooks jumped.

Crooks did not have a parachute, and his body was found after a family reported it landing a stone's throw from their house.

Crooks' father said Crooks had been working as a flight instructor for roughly a year, according to WRAL. He was at a loss as to why his son might have jumped.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"He said a couple weeks ago, he wouldn't trade places with anybody in the world. He loved where he was," Crooks' father told the station, adding, "I can't imagine what happened."