Dallas

What We Know About the Victims of the Addison Plane Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash that killed all 10 people aboard the twin-engine aircraft

All 10 of the people killed in a fiery plane crash Sunday morning in Addison have been publicly identified.

A Beechcraft BE-350 King Air crashed moments after taking off from Addison Municipal Airport. The plane was supposed to fly to St. Petersburg, Florida. Witnesses and authorities say the aircraft struggled to gain altitude before veering into a hangar not far from a busy commercial strip and densely populated residential neighborhoods.

Here is what we know about the victims of the crash:

Mary and John Titus

Jinky Hicks, the presiding director of Tennis Competitors of Dallas, said in an email Monday that a league director, Mary Titus, and her husband, John, were among the eight passengers who were killed. Hicks said five other members of the organization were on board the aircraft.

Alice and Dylan Maritato; Ornella and Brian Ellard

A family of four was among the 10 killed, according to a letter released Monday by one of the children's schools. John Paul II High School in Plano identified 15-year-old Alice Maritato and her 13-year-old brother, Dylan, as well as the siblings' mother, Ornella Ellard, and 52-year-old stepfather, Brian Ellard.

Facebook: Darryl Taylor
Gina, left, and Steve Thelen.

Steve and Gina Thelen

Steve Thelen, 58, who worked at JLL, and his wife Gina were also among the 10 people who died in the crash, according to an email to employees. The JLL email said Steve had a son and daughter who were not on the plane.

Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer, 28, as shown in a Facebook photo.

The co-pilot of the aircraft, 28-year-old Matthew Palmer, was also killed. No further information has been released about him.

Howard Cassady

The pilot of the aircraft, 71-year-old Howard Cassady, was also killed. No further information has been released about him.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set for any of the deceased.

Federal investigators said Monday that they've started analyzing the cockpit voice recorder. The private plane was not required to have a flight data recorder, which tracks the performance of virtually every system on board. Nearly all off the plane was destroyed in the fire.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators will rely on physical evidence at the crash site, video, radar information and witness accounts to determine the cause of the crash.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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