Glen de Vries, a 49-year-old businessman and pilot died on November 11 in a tragic aircraft crash in the US. Aboard a single-engine aircraft with his flight instructor Thomas P. Fisher, 54, Mr de Vries passed away after crashing in woodland near Lake Kemah, New Jersey, according to local State Police spokeswoman Brandi Slota.
The plane had been reported missing nearly an hour earlier.
On October 13, Glen de Vries was part of the Blue Origin crew who spent 10 minutes in space.
His companions were “Star Trek” actor William Shatner, Australian entrepreneur Chris Boshuizen and Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers.
“We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries,” Blue Origin official account tweeted.
“He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates.
“His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”
Chris Boshuizen expressed his condolences in a tweet on Friday.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of fellow space explorer Glen de Vries,” he wrote.
READ MORE: Tom Hanks turned down William Shatner’s space flight due to cost
After his trip to space, de Vries told Pittsburgh station KDKA that he hoped he had inspired others.
He said: “I thought that would be important to me before we went up, and having done it makes me feel twice as much conviction.
“Maybe a thousand times more conviction.
“That is something we need to make accessible, in an equitable way, to as many people on the planet as possible.”
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