A chilling sound from air traffic control captured the final moments of a young flight instructor who was killed in a plane crash in Virginia when his student pulled the small plane at too steep an angle on takeoff.
Viktoria Theresie Izabelle Ljungman, 22, of Sweden died when the single-engine Cessna 172 stalled and plummeted about 100 feet around 3 p.m. Thursday at Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News, Virginia.
Oluwagbohunmi Ayomide Oyebode, 18, a resident of Maryland, and another unidentified 18-year-old student pilot were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Ljungman, a licensed commercial pilot, was serving as a flight instructor for two aviation students when the accident occurred. One of the victims, Oyebode, was taken to VCU Hospital in Richmond.
The air traffic control audio captured Ljungman’s haunting last words before she tragically died:
“Cleared for takeoff, 97883. Watch out for turbulence,” she said. In wake turbulence, an aircraft encounters rough air after taking off in the wake of another aircraft.
The other victim, also an 18-year-old student onboard, suffered life-threatening injuries. Their name has not been revealed. A spokesperson for Hampton University said that both Oyebode and the 18-year-old male are students.
According to Michelle Anaya of the Virginia State Police, the plane was preparing for takeoff in the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, when Oyebode tried to pull the plane up at “too steep of an angle.” Anaya added that this caused the plane to stall at 100ft before it “dove” into a ditch. After takeoff from the Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport in Virginia, the plane crashed into the barrier next to the runway.
Hampton University canceled classes on Friday, October 7, and arranged a prayer service for the students and Ljungman, who was also on the university’s women’s tennis team.
Former Hampton University Tennis player Charlie Hudson said, “We were really each other’s family. I remember when I first met her, that’s all she ever wanted to do. She wanted to be a commercial pilot.”
Hudson added, “I don’t remember her ever not smiling. She was just contagious in her energy, just lovely to be around.”
“Viktoria didn’t have a single bad bone in her body. Not only was she nice, but she was intelligent, beautiful, adventurous, punctual, a risk taker, and radiate(d) positive energy.” Mabry added, “She was truly someone you only meet once. And I will love her until the day after forever.”
The university released a statement, saying:
“Hampton University is aware of the unfortunate accident that occurred today involving two of our students. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Out of respect for the students and their families, we have no further comment at this time.”
The occupants of the house reportedly said they were sleeping inches away from the crash and were, luckily, unharmed in the accident.