Flight instructor dies after student crashes plane

Tragedy struck in Virginia on Thursday (6 October) when an 18-year-old student pilot miscalculated a manoeuvre. 

Oluwagbohunmi Ayomide Oyebode was flying under the guidance of 23-year-old flight instructor Viktoria Theresie Izabelle Ljungman.

Just after 3pm, Oyebode attempted to pull the aircraft - a single engine Cessna 172 - up, however, did so at too steep an angle.

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This caused the plane’s engine to stall and the aircraft then dived towards the ground and crashed into a ditch near the Williamsburg International Airport.

Tragically, Ljungman died at the scene. Oyebode suffered serious injuries and was flown to hospital while another 18-year-old student who was onboard also suffered injuries. 

According to HBCU Gameday, Ljungman was a member of the Hampton University women’s tennis program and one of her former uni roommates shared a touching tribute to the Swedish-born instructor. 

Myana Maybry told Wavy: “Viktoria didn't have a single bad bone in her body. Not only was she nice, but she was intelligent, beautiful, adventurous, punctual, a risk taker, and radiated positive energy. 

"She was truly someone you only meet once. And I will love her until the day after forever."

The university also released a statement, however only commented on the two young men involved in the crash.

The statement said: “Hampton University is aware of the unfortunate accident that occurred today involving two of our students. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Out of respect for the students and their families we have no further comment at this time.”

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UNILAD has approached Virginia Police for comment. 

Ljungman often documented her flying career on Instagram, and over summer revealed in a post she was ‘excited to get back to the US and get in flight hours’ after a holiday in Sweden. 

Ljungman’s last Instagram post was shared seven weeks ago and captioned: “Up we go.”

The image showed Ljungman sitting in a cockpit holding a clipboard.

Since news of Ljungman’s passing broke, condolences have quickly racked up beneath her last social media post.

People left comments including: “Taken far too young. So tragic. Such a beautiful girl,” “Prayers from her Hampton family. Sending all love and light” and “Sweetest soul I met at Hampton. Not exaggerating at all. My condolences, please rest peacefully.”

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

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