Columbus area man among 6 people killed in Dallas air show crash

COLUMBUS — A Columbus area man from Hilliard was among the six people who reportedly died during an air show crash in Texas Saturday afternoon, according to our news partner WBNS-TV in Columbus.

>>Officials: 6 people killed after WWII bomber, fighter aircraft collide during Texas airshow

Six people were killed Saturday afternoon after a World War II bomber and a fighter aircraft collided during an airshow in Dallas, Texas, officials said.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra collided and crashed around collided and crashed around 1:20 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.

Among the crewmembers on board the Boeing B-17 was Curtis Rowe of the Ohio Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, WBNS reports.

He was a mechanic for the B-17.

Colonel Pete Bowden of the Ohio Wing Civil Air Patrol released a statement on Facebook Sunday.

“It is with great sadness that I share the loss of one of our own, Major Curtis J. Rowe. Rowe’s family received official notice of his passing late in the evening of November 12th.

“Curt and his fellow crewmembers were lost yesterday while performing an aerial demonstration during Wings Over Dallas in Texas. In addition to more than 30 years of continued service in Civil Air Patrol, Curt also volunteered as a crewmember on a vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Commemorative Air Force where he shared his passion for flying.

“Curt’s service in Ohio Wing Civil Air Patrol spans over three decades where he held every aircrew rating possible and earned his Command Pilot Rating. Curt served in positions ranging from Safety Officer to Operations Officer at the squadron and wing levels, with his most current position being Ohio Wing Maintenance Officer. Curt touch the lives of thousands of his fellow Civil Air Patrol members, especially when flying cadets during hundreds of orientation flights over the course of his service. He also volunteered multiple times over the past decade at the Johnson Flight Academy in Mattoon Illinois.

“Please take a moment to reflect on the service of Major Curt Rowe as we celebrate his life and contribution to his community, state, and nation.”

Wings Over Dallas bills itself as “America’s Premier World War II Airshow,” according to a website advertising the event. The show was scheduled for Nov. 11-13, Veterans Day weekend, and guests were to see more than 40 World War II-era aircrafts.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were launching investigations.

The NTSB investigative team was expected to arrive Sunday, according to WBNS.

The investigation is ongoing.

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