Pilot, Navy officer flight student presumed dead in New Orleans plane crash

A flight teacher and her scholar, a U.S. Navy officer who was additionally an expectant father, are presumed lifeless after their small airplane crashed right into a New Orleans lake, based on authorities and native studies.

Teacher Taylor Dickey and her scholar, Navy Lt. David Michael Jahn, took off final Monday in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, however the airplane disappeared from flight radar over Lake Pontchartrain, about 4 miles north of New Orleans Lakefront Airport, based on the United Cajun Navy. Local media WWLTV reported that the 30-year-olds took off from Gulfport-Biloxi Worldwide Airport, about 70 miles northeast of the place they went lacking.

Though the our bodies haven’t but been recovered, the United Cajun Navy stated Sunday that they’d situated the wreckage of the airplane. The crew’s K9 unit additionally indicated the realm might comprise stays.

“Now we’re one step nearer to closing it down and giving among the household some aid,” stated Gabe Johnson of the United Cajun Navy.

FAMILY MATRIARCH DIES DAY AFTER RESCUE FROM REMOTE ISLAND AS FAMILY SWIM Ashore TO ESCAPE BOAT FIRE

David Michael Jahn is presumed lifeless after the airplane he was on disappeared from radar on November 24, 2025. (Fb/David Michael Jahn)

Jahn, a Civil Engineer Corps officer with the Navy Seabees based mostly in Gulfport, Mississippi, was married to his spouse Taylor, who’s 5 months pregnant, the United Cajun Navy advised Fox Information Digital on Sunday. In keeping with the flight college, he was approaching his industrial pilot’s license with slightly below 250 hours of flight time.

The United Cajun Navy added that the pilot teacher “was recognized for her sturdy religion, her love of flying and her dedication to mentoring different ladies in aviation.”

Whereas the United Cajun Navy continues its search efforts, arguing that “households deserve closure,” the Coast Guard stated its company suspended operations Wednesday afternoon after crews looked for about 45 hours by air and water, masking an space of ​​greater than 750 sq. miles.

“Our ideas exit to the households and family members affected by this tragic scenario,” stated Cmdr. Michael Wurster, Coast Guard Sector Coordinator in New Orleans, stated in an announcement. “Suspending a search is likely one of the most tough selections we make, and solely after each effort has been made to find these concerned.”

COAST GUARD COMES IN TO RESERVE BEACHED SAILORS FROM SINKING BOAT HUNDREDS OF MILES OFF SHORE

Teacher Taylor Dickey is presumed lifeless after her airplane disappeared from radar on November 24, 2025. (Fb/Taylor Dickey)

Michael Carastro, the proprietor of Apollo Aviation flight college that owned the airplane, stated at a information convention Tuesday that no emergency name was made however that the airplane seemingly disintegrated in a “very, very violent” method upon influence.

He described the challenges related to flying over water at night time, particularly in “marginal” climate, which poses many challenges for the pilot.

Navy Lt. David Michael Jahn was married to his spouse Taylor, who’s 5 months pregnant, when he disappeared on November 24, 2025. (Fb/David Michael Jahn)

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The United Cajun Navy stated the group deployed boats, sonar groups, shut air assist and K9 models through the vacation search mission throughout extreme climate situations.

“That is how we spend our Thanksgiving weekend right here making an attempt to offer another person’s household closure,” stated Kevin Ratzman, deputy speedy commander of the United Cajun Navy.

Carastro additionally expressed deep sorrow, noting that this was the primary critical incident Apollo Aviation had skilled in its many years of existence.