FORT LAUDERDALE — Both the pilots who died in the fiery plane crash on Interstate 75 in Collier County Friday were identified on Saturday as employees of Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
CBS News Miami’s Nikiya Carrero spoke with the neighbors of one of the pilots, who recalled the moment they found out about the crash.
“It’s tragic,” said neighbor Paula Kane. “It’s really bad.”
The identities of those who died in the Naples tragedy were identified by the National Transportation Safety Board and Collier County Sheriff’s Office were pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, who lived in Oakland Park, and co-pilot Ian Frederick Hoffman, 65, who lived in Pompano Beach. Kane and Ralph Eisenberg live next door to Hoffman.
They described the moment when Hoffman’s wife came and knocked on their door after learning about the crash.
“We were just finishing supper and there was a knock on the door — and it was Cristina [who] came to the door,” Kane told Carrero. “And she was on the phone. I think it was to the manager from the company. And, we couldn’t understand what she was saying, unfortunately. So, Ralph took the phone from her and she just collapsed in my arms.