The Tragic Plane Crash of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
On July 16, 1999, a tragic plane crash took the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister, Lauren Bessette. This shocking event saddened the world, as John F. Kennedy Jr. was the beloved son of the late President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. John was a lawyer, journalist, and publisher, and Carolyn was a former publicist for Calvin Klein. The couple was widely admired and followed by the public.
That evening, the group was flying from Essex County Airport in New Jersey to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, to attend a family wedding. John, a licensed pilot, was at the controls of the Piper Saratoga, a six-seater single-engine aircraft. However, the weather conditions were not ideal for flying, with haze and poor visibility over the Atlantic Ocean. Contact with the plane was lost at around 9:40 PM, shortly before it was due to land.
A massive search and rescue operation was quickly launched, involving the Coast Guard, Navy, and Civil Air Patrol. After several days of searching, the wreckage of the plane was found on July 21, about eight miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard at a depth of 116 feet. The bodies of John, Carolyn, and Lauren were recovered from the ocean floor.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the crash and concluded that the likely cause was pilot error. John F. Kennedy Jr. became disoriented due to the poor visibility and was unable to maintain control of the plane. The report also noted that Kennedy did not have an instrument rating, which was necessary for flying in such conditions, and had limited flight experience.
The nation mourned the loss of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and Lauren Bessette. A private memorial service was held and their ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean.
More from us: John F. Kennedy Jr.’s Wife Had An Eerie Premonition Two Weeks Before Her Husband’s Ill-Fated Flight
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The loss of these three individuals remains a reminder of the fragility of life and the lasting impact of the Kennedy family.