INDEPENDENT STAFF

Four people were killed after a small airplane crashed in a cornfield southwest of Moorefield on Friday, Aug. 24.

Emergency personnel received the report of a possible plane crash near 6773 Sideroad 3 at 8:39 p.m.

Wellington County O.P.P. say information was received from RCC Trenton that a single engine Cessna had disappeared off radar. An emergency transponder signal had been activated but they were unable to identify the location.

Members of the West Region O.P.P. Emergency Response Team and Canine were called to the scene to assist with a ground search.

After an extensive search of the area, a single engine Cessna was located in a cornfield. The plane had been carrying four occupants. All were pronounced deceased at the scene. The victims were transported to Hamilton General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The deceased have been identified as pilot Marko Misic, 20, of Toronto and passengers: Mohammed Shahnawaz Zia, 23, of Toronto; Wasay Rizwan, 27, of Toronto; and Victoria Margaret Luk, 19, of Mississauga.

The preliminary investigation has revealed the aircraft was rented from the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre and had departed the Breslau Airport at 6:10 p.m. Its destination was Toronto, then Niagara Falls, prior to returning to Breslau.

At some point during the flight, unknown difficulties were encountered and the plane crashed to the ground.

On its website, the Waterloo-Wellington Flight Centre has expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. Misic was described as a long-time pilot of the flight centre, who had received the top commercial pilot award this past year at the flight centre’s annual Wings banquet.