Days shy of becoming the youngest person to fly around the world in a month, an Indiana teen tragically died when his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean.
Haris Suleman, 17, and his father, Babar, left June 19 to embark on the epic 26,000-mile journey that included 26 stops. They took off in their single-engine jet Wednesday morning from the Pago Pago International Airport in the American Samoa and crashed over water.
The young teen’s body was located by emergency crews at the scene, but his father has not yet been found, according to the Indianapolis Star.
NTSB is investigating today’s accident in Pago Pago, American Samoa involving a Beech A36 Bonanza.
— NTSB (@NTSB) July 23, 2014
On Sunday, Babar blogged about his time in Bali. “Bali is to the Australians what Key West is to the Americans. Run over by tourists, commercialized and set up for everyone looking to make a quick buck, “ he wrote.
Suleman was was hoping to “follow in his father’s footsteps” and become an engineer, according to the website dedicated to sharing details about their journey.
He started flying last summer and got his pilot’s license in June.
The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that they are investigating the accident. It is still unclear why the Hawker Beechcraft BE36 crashed.
View video