Chayton Wiescholek, a 28-year-old resident of Union City, Michigan, was among the four individuals tragically killed in a hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona on Sunday, January 14, 2024
The incident unfolded as a hot air balloon, carrying a total of 13 occupants, including a balloon operator, four passengers, and eight skydivers, was navigating the Arizona desert.
Who is Chayton Wiescholek of Union City as maintenance technician dies in Eloy, Arizona hot air balloon crash
Victims killed in hot air balloon crash in Eloy Arizona identified as Chayton Wiescholek, Kaitlynn "Katie" Bartrom, Atahan Kiliccote and Cornelius Van Der Walt.https://t.co/6bU5iU2efn pic.twitter.com/i4CIgKtZm1
— Channel3 Now (@fox3news) January 15, 2024
The crash transpired in Eloy, a city located approximately 65 miles south of Phoenix, shortly after the skydivers completed their planned jump from the aircraft.
Reports indicate that the crash claimed the lives of four individuals, including the pilot. One critically injured passenger was rushed to a trauma center in Phoenix.
Following the incident, Eloy police identified the victims as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, from Andrews, Indiana; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, from Cupertino, California; and Cornelius van der Walt, 37, the pilot of the aircraft, originally from South Africa and residing in Eloy.
About Chayton Wiescholek
28 year old Chayton Wiescholek, remembered as a maintenance technician, became the focus of a GoFundMe campaign initiated by Gwendolyn Morrow, a family member. The campaign aims to assist with funeral expenses and has garnered over $2,800 in donations, with a target of $15,000.
The fundraising page describes Wiescholek as an adventure seeker, and the funds raised will directly support the family during the memorial and funeral services, the details of which will be announced later.
Wiescholek’s Facebook page, which revealed his employment as a maintenance technician at Continental Carbonic Products, Inc., also became a platform for friends and colleagues to express their grief.
One friend, Holly Secord, paid an emotional tribute on Facebook, expressing disbelief at his untimely departure and conveying condolences to the grieving family.
Secord wrote “Gone way too soon. I cannot fathom the heartache of the family and send them my condolences and prayers…Always happy, ready to help anyone in need, you will be missed by many.”
Cause of Crash
Valerie Stutterheim, 23, from Scottsdale, Arizona, was identified as the critically injured victim in the incident. Authorities are collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the ongoing investigation.
Preliminary information from the NTSB suggests that the incident occurred due to an unspecified problem with the balloon’s envelope, though the exact cause of the hot air balloon crash is yet to be determined.
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