Blue Origin Glen de Vries astronaut dies a month after traveling into space with William Shatner

(CNN Business) – One of Blue Origin’s newest astronauts, Glen de Vries, 49, survived the trip to space in October alongside the actor. William shatner. However, less than a month later he was killed in a small plane crash that took place Thursday in New Jersey.

“Our thoughts and support are with the Glen family,” said a spokesperson for Dassault Systèmes, where de Vries was vice president for life and health sciences. Our condolences also go out to our MEDIDATA team, of which Glen was a co-founder. His tireless energy, empathy, and pioneering spirit left their mark on everyone who met him. We will miss Glen very much, but his dreams – which we share – are still alive: We will pursue progress in the life and health sciences as passionately as he is. “

New Jersey State Police say the plane hit a wooded area Thursday afternoon in Hampton, about 40 miles northwest of New York City. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) records say that a Cessna 172 – a four-seat aircraft used for training and recreational flying – was involved in a fatal accident under “unknown circumstances in an area. heavily wooded “Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted Thursday that it is investigating the accident.

State troopers say de Vries was accompanied by 54-year-old Thomas P. Fischer.

FAA records show that the Blue Origin astronaut was certified as a private pilot with an instrument flight rating, which allowed him to fly through the clouds and solely in reference to flight instruments.

De Vries never disclosed how much he paid for a seat on the New Shepherd ship. But whatever the amount, after returning to Earth, De Vries told CNN it was worth it.

“We are devastated to learn of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries,” said a Blue Origin spokesman. “He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and his fellow crew members. His passion for aviation, his charitable work and his dedication to his craft will be long revered and admired.”