US space tourist dies in plane crash

US businessman Glen de Vries, who flew into space with “Star Trek” actor William Shatner on last month’s Blue Origin flight, has died in a plane crash, the police said on Friday.

The small aircraft came down in Hampton Township, New Jersey, about 95 kilometres west of New York City, shortly before 3pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday, a spokesman for New Jersey state police told AFP. The aircraft had departed from Essex County Airport in Caldwell and was headed to Sussex Airport when the Federal Aviation Administration alerted public safety agencies to look for the missing plane around 3 p.m. Emergency crews found the wreckage around 4 p.m., the FAA said.

“There are two confirmed fatalities,” the spokesman said, naming de Vries, 49, and 54-year-old Thomas Fischer.

“He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”