Three former Afghan Air Force pilots who had immigrated to the U.S. died when their plane crashed in Oregon on Saturday.
As the Taliban took over Afghanistan over the summer of 2021, Afghan Air Force pilots flew their aircraft out of the country to prevent the aircraft from falling into terrorist hands. Many then made their way to the U.S., hoping for a chance to find a permanent home.
Three of those pilots were killed in a single-engine plane crash on Saturday near Independence, Oregon.
Major Sayed Hussain Musawi was flying with Major Mohammad Bashir Safdari and Lieutenant Ali Jan Ferdawsi as passengers aboard a 1966 Cessna 172G. All three were C-208 pilots for the Afghan Air Force, according to a statement from Russ Pritchard, the CEO of The Afghan American Development Group, a U.S. based non-profit.
According to a release from the Independence Police Department, the plane crashed just before 5:00 p.m. in the northern area of Independence, Oregon. Independence authorities said the plane struck a power line in foggy conditions, temporarily knocking out power and sparking a small brush fire.
