Cecelia Cichan

Cecelia Cichan the sole survivor of Northwest Flight 255 was covered on tv today. Cecelia Cichan was Northwest Flight 255’s only survivor during a tragic crash almost 22 years ago. On August 16, 1987 Flight 255 was heading to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona and ultimately Santa Ana, California.

But during takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, the plane crashed. Only Cecelia Marie Cichan (now Cecelia Marie Cichan-Lumpkin) survived. The six year lost her parents and brother. The medical examiner on scene never understood how she survived, calling it complete destruction. Cecelia would be raised by her aunt and uncle, Rita and Frank Lumpkin.

“Hi everyone. I just wanted to give a quick update. I am doing great. I know the anniversary is coming up soon, and that is a sad time for us all. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you … families and friends of the passengers of flight 255 … even those of you who are concerned but have no direct connection to the crash. Thanks to everyone who keeps me in their prayers as well! God Bless!”

plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on a plane crash that killed a Tuscumbia man. Steven Raddatz, 41, of Tuscumbia was killed May 23 when the plane he was flying collided with another plane and crashed onto the lawn at Calhoun Community College in Decatur. The pilot of the other plane, B.J. Kennamore, 59, was able to land at Pryor Field and had only minor injuries.

According to the NTSB report, the two pilots had flown to Pryor Field for an open house. They were about to fly home to the Shoals and had planned to perform some aerial stunts so spectators could take photos. The report says Raddatz was going to fly in formation during a low pass over the airport, but he was flying faster than Kennamore. When Kennamore started to turn his plane and climb, Raddatz's left wing hit Kennamore's right wing. Raddatz's wing partially separated, causing him to lose control of the plane and crash.

Two people were killed yesterday when a single-engine training aircraft crashed just a few minutes after takeoff in the area of Kopaida, in the prefecture of Viotia, north of Athens. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the deaths of the 42-year-old pilot and the 35-year-old trainee, both Athenians, in the early afternoon. The plane took off shortly after 2 p.m. from the airstrip of a small aviation club in Kopaida and went down just a few minutes later after reaching an altitude of 150 meters, CAA officials said.