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A pilot frantically yelled ‘mayday!’ just before his small aircraft went down off the California coast, resulting in the tragic loss of his life, his pregnant wife, and an Arizona father who was accompanying his three adult sons.
Landon Baldwin gave the anguished cry as he and wife Torrie went down over the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Diego Sunday afternoon.
Among the victims were George ‘Jeremy’ Bingham, 48, along with his sons, George ‘Bailey,’ 26, Gavin, 24, and Ayden, 20, who perished when the Cessna plunged into the ocean.
All six passengers perished in the devastating crash just three miles from the shore, according to a GoFundMe for the grieving family.
‘This devastating loss has left behind a heartbroken family,’ the fundraiser, organized by Hope Lofgreen, said.
The plane went down at around 12.30pm on Sunday shortly following take off from San Diego International Airport.
Air traffic control reported the pilot said he had been ‘just struggling’ to fly to a higher altitude.
‘Are you doing OK there? Do you need assistance,’ the controller asked, The Mercury News reported.
‘Affirm,’ the pilot responded as the plane flew at around 1,000 feet.
The fatal crash involved George ‘Jeremy’ Bingham (middle right), 48, and his sons, George ‘Bailey’ (left), 26, Gavin (middle left), 24, and Ayden (right), 20, when the small plane crashed into the sea near San Diego on Sunday.
The pilot of the aircraft was identified as Landon Baldwin (pictured left) who was on board with his wife, Torrie (pictured right), who leave behind two young children
Jeremy (pictured) is survived by his wife and the boys’ mother Stephanie and their youngest daughter Kadie. The fundraiser described the loving father as a ‘pillar of strength in both his family and community’
‘Four Bravo Alpha, what seems to be the issue?’
‘Ah, just struggling right now at the present to maintain [unclear] the setting.’
The pilot continued traveling at too low an altitude and was told to land at Naval Air Station North Island nearby before the pilot urgently responded, ‘Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday!,’ according to the outlet.
The twin-engine aircraft, which had been en route to Phoenix, crashed into the water shortly afterwards and no survivors were found.
The young men left behind the beginnings of their lives, including Bailey’s wife Ashlyn and their 9-month-old newborn, Carter, and Ayden’s fiancée Camille.
Jeremy is survived by his wife and the boys’ mother Stephanie, a nurse at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, and their youngest daughter and recent high school graduate, Kadie.
The fundraiser described the loving father as a ‘pillar of strength in both his family and community.’
‘He was selfless, hardworking, and endlessly generous,’ Lofgreen wrote. ‘Someone who would drop everything to help anyone in need.’
Pictured (left to right): Jeremy Bingham, Ashlyn, Bailey, Kadie, Ayden, Gavin and Stephanie
His eldest son, Bailey, was a ‘loving new father, excited to celebrate his first Father’s Day’ following the birth of his and his wife Ashlyn’s 9-month-old Carter. Pictured (left to right): Bailey, Carter, and Ashlyn
Jeremy is survived by his wife and the boys’ mother Stephanie (pictured right) and their youngest daughter Kadie
Jeremy worked as a ‘dedicated’ UPS truck driver, according to his obituary, and ‘navigated life with a smile that could light up the darkest of days.’
‘He had an innate ability to connect with others, always sharing positivity and warmth, making anyone feel at ease in his presence,’ it said. ‘Jeremy always searched out ways to give back to the people of the community he loved but always put his family first.’
His eldest son, Bailey, was a ‘loving new father, excited to celebrate his first Father’s Day,’ the fundraiser said.
‘He had a calm, patient soul with the biggest heart, he was always putting family and friends first,’ it added.
Bailey’s obituary said he was ‘strong-willed and dependable, he was also renowned for his silly and loud personality, filling the lives of those around him with unbridled happiness.’
Gavin was ‘deeply driven and independent, yet incredibly soft hearted. He made everyone feel loved and seen.’
‘Those who knew him often spoke of his ability to love deeply, protect fiercely, and approach every situation with a unique blunt and sarcastic sense of humor that could brighten even the cloudiest of days,’ his obituary said.
Their youngest son, Ayden, ‘lit up every room with his energy,’ according to the fundraiser.
A friend wrote on Facebook that ‘the world just lost some of the best men,’ and that their deaths ‘left a hole too big to ever fill’
Ayden’s obituary described the young man as ‘one characterized by loyalty, protectiveness, and a spirited enthusiasm that radiated from him’
Bailey’s obituary said he was ‘strong-willed and dependable, he was also renowned for his silly and loud personality, filling the lives of those around him with unbridled happiness’
‘He was the life of the party whose positivity and laughter were contagious as he approached life with dedication and passion.’
Ayden’s obituary described the young man as ‘one characterized by loyalty, protectiveness, and a spirited enthusiasm that radiated from him.’
‘His unusual spunky personality made him stand out; he was very organized and able to anticipate the needs of others, demonstrating a maturity beyond years.’
A friend wrote on Facebook that ‘the world just lost some of the best men,’ and that their deaths ‘left a hole too big to ever fill.’
The pilot of the aircraft was identified as Landon Baldwin who was on board with his wife, Torrie.
Landon and Torrie leave behind their two young children, according to a GoFundMe created to help as they grow up.
‘Their lives were centered around their growing family,’ the fundraiser said. ‘Everything they did, every dream, every plan, was for their kids.’
‘Their loss is unimaginable, especially for the little ones left behind who now face a future without the love and presence of their incredible parents.’
Pictured: Pilot Landon Baldwin with his wife Torrie and their two children
The pilot of the plane, Landon (pictured), was said to be ‘the kind of friend who always made time, no matter how busy life got’
Torrie was described as ‘the heart of every gathering, always showing up for others and finding ways to make people feel seen, heard, and loved.’
She spent time coaching a local high school tennis team, as her presence was described as ‘truly irreplaceable.’
Her husband and the pilot of the plane, Landon, was said to be ‘the kind of friend who always made time, no matter how busy life got.’
‘He worked hard, dreamed big, and believed in lifting others along the way. Whether you knew him as a father, a husband, a colleague, or a friend, you knew him to be someone dependable, generous and full of quiet strength.’
Records obtained by the Mercury News indicated that the plane was owned by a nutritional supplement company based in Arizona.
A spokesperson for the company told the outlet that the plane had been sold two years ago to ‘a private group of individuals.’
‘We personally knew several of the passengers onboard and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community,’ a statement from Optimal Health said, the outlet reported.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their loved ones.’
