Chicago: According to the NTSB investigators, an airplane headed towards Lawrence disappeared off radar and later crashed near a suburban area of Chicago on the eve of Sunday. The investigators confirmed that three passengers killed in the crash were identified as Dr Tausif Rehman M.D., Dr Ali A. Kanchwala M.D. and Dr Maria Javaid Kanchwala M.D. Dr Rehman was an esteemed neurosurgeon at Cotton-O’Neil Topeka, Dr Ali was a pulmonologist at the same clinic, and Dr Maria was an interventional cardiologist at the Kansas City Providence Medical Center.
The plane reportedly crashed in the Palos Hills area on an empty lot, and therefore did not cause any casualties on the ground. According to the reporters, the three passengers on board were flying to Chicago for a shopping trip. Only five minutes after it had left the Midway Airport in Chicago, the plane crashed after it was lost on the radar.
Based on the debris scatter and damage at the scene, the investigators have assumed that the six-seat plane had made a ‘nosedive’ crash landing. John Brennan, a National Transportation Safety Board air safety investigator, explained that the aircraft had impacted at an almost vertical position.
The NTSB confirmed that no distress call was made by the pilot, and that the aircraft was registered to Dr Tausif Rehman’s Lawrence Company known as ARC Aviation. Investigations probing into the cause of the crash are still underway.
Randy Peterson, the CEO and President of Stormont-Vail Healthcare said, ‘Dr. Rehman and Dr. Kanchwala were extremely valued, highly skilled and beloved members of our staff. We are heartbroken. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these individuals and the staff who worked closely with them. ’
According to some of the residents near the site, the plane crashed on the one only empty plot in the area; had it landed anywhere else, it may have resulted in casualties.
Dr Tausif Rehman was an officially trained, licensed pilot and has flown numerous times. He graduated from the Aga Khan University, after which he joined the University of New Mexico to specialize in Neurosurgery.
Dr Ali Kanchwala graduated from the DOW University of Health Sciences and later joined the East Carolina University for fellowship. His wife, Dr Maria Javaid was also a graduate of the DOW University of Health Sciences who later specialized in the field of interventional cardiology at the Providence Medical Centre. The two university friends had tied the knot in Kansas.
Close friends, colleagues and family members describe the trio as highly dedicated, talented, adventurous and kind hearted individuals. Their memorial services were held in Kansas earlier this week.
