Pilot, 26, Dies in Crash Moments After Skydivers Jumped from Plane: ‘She Was Doing What She Loved’
Melanie Georger was the only person onboard the plane when it crashed near Niagara Falls on July 20, authorities said
A New York woman is dead after the plane she was flying crashed just after skydivers jumped from the aircraft.
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said reports of the plane crash at Niagara Scenic Parkway began coming in around 11:40 a.m. local time on July 20.
The airplane involved in the crash, from Skydive the Falls, “was heading back to land” after releasing its passengers when the aircraft went down, according to a news release from the department.
The victim, who has been identified as Melanie Georger, 26, of Tonawanda, was the only person onboard the plane at the time, authorities said.
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In a Facebook post, Melanie's father, Paul Georger, said that his "beloved daughter” and "best friend" was attempting to become a commercial pilot, something she dreamed of accomplishing. "She was doing what she loved" when she died, he added.
“My life is much darker today and will remain so for a long time,” Paul said in his statement. “I’m already looking forward to the day that we reunite and I will have a huge hole in my heart and a never ending ache until then. Stars and butterflies, my love.”
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Jeffrey Walker told CBS affiliate WIVB that he went skydiving for the first time on the same plane that crashed about 30 minutes prior to the incident. He said “everything was great” during his run.
“I give her props for wanting to do what she was doing,” Walker said, per the Associated Press. “I really feel bad for the business and the company she was working for, because they’re a great company. I thought [they] did a great job training.”
Skydive the Falls did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Related: Parents of 3 Identified as Victims Who Died in California Plane Crash: 'Heartbroken by This Loss'
Sheriff Michael Filicetti said the scene would have been much worse had the plane crashed a couple hundred feet in another direction.
"Where it landed was just off the parkway. We look to the west near Fort Niagara, it's full of soccer players today," Filicetti explained at a press conference, per WIVB. "We're lucky where it landed, but it is an unfortunate incident."
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
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