INDEPENDENCE, OR – A tragic aviation accident claimed the lives of three individuals in Oregon on Saturday when a small plane collided with power lines. The victims, identified as Mohammad Hussain Musawi, Mohammad Bashir Safdari, and Ali Jan Ferdawsi, were the only occupants of the plane at the time of the crash.
The incident occurred late Saturday afternoon in Independence, a small town approximately 12 miles southwest of Salem. The plane, a single-engine model, crashed into power lines, causing a power outage for at least 375 residents of the area, according to Pacific Power.
The victims, all residents of Oregon, included the pilot, 35-year-old Musawi, and passengers Safdari, 35, and Ferdawsi, 29. The owner of the aircraft was not among the victims. The Independence Police Department confirmed the identities of the deceased on Sunday.
Independence Chief Robert Mason expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “Our entire department mourns with you during this time.” The plane was en route from McMinnville, Oregon, to Independence State Airport amid heavy fog when the accident occurred.
The crash also resulted in a small brush fire, adding to the challenges faced by the community. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting an investigation into the incident, with support from local law enforcement. The exact cause of the crash has yet to be determined.