PICTURED: Pilot and CEO of private jet company killed in Virginia highway crash along with wife and young son

The CEO of a private jet company and pilot training school has been identified as one of the victims in a plane crash in Virginia.

Alfredo Diez, founder and CEO of Atlantis Aviation, and his wife and young son have been identified as three of the five victims by Spanish newspaper El Español.

On Sunday, five people died in the crash near the Ingalls Field Airport in Bath County when a private jet and burst into flames on impact.

Diez is from Betanzos in Spain and reportedly moved to Florida in 2016 to launch his flight academy. In 2020, he became the CEO of private jet company Sky Jet Elite, according to his LinkedIn profile.

'My great friend Alfredo J Diez departed yesterday with his family and crew to his eternal flight,' said Adolfo Perez Castillo on Facebook.

Alfredo Diez, founder and CEO of Atlantis Aviation, and his wife and son have been identified as three of the five victims in Sunday's plane crash in Virginia

Diez is from Betanzos in Spain and reportedly moved to Florida in 2016 to launch his flight academy. In 2020, he became the CEO of private jet company Sky Jet Elite

On Sunday, five people died in the crash near the Ingalls Field Airport in Bath County when a private jet and burst into flames on impact

'My friend Alfredo and I did business since 2019 and he was a great Galician. Born in the town of Betanzos in the corona. A Spanish citizen who built Atlantis flight academy and sky elite charter in these recent years representing Spain and Galicia well in South Florida.'  

The plane, a twin-engine IAI Astra 1125, crashed around 3 p.m. on Sunday when the airplane came down short of the runway as it was attempting to make an emergency landing.

The Virginia State Police said the plane fell short of the runway, plowed through trees before slamming into a hillside. 

The plane reportedly left from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was scheduled to land at Ingalls Field Airport in Hot Springs, Virginia.

An attorney for the plane’s owner and family friend told police that the people aboard planned to attend an event at the nearby Homestead Resort. 

'An incredible young man gone too soon. Such a genuine, polite well mannered young man,' said Kat Ferrari on Facebook. 'I've always maintained relationships with my students after they move on, but this one hits hard.'

'Alfredo J Diez and Yessenia were just amazing to me! When I was down and out they gave me an opportunity to work with them. I will forever appreciate you both. Rest in peace with your baby boy.'

Of the five people who died, one was the pilot, another was the first officer, and Diez, his wife and son were passengers. Their remains were sent to the Virginia Office of the Medical Examiner for positive identification.

The other two people who died are men but their names have not yet been identified.  

Virginia State Police are investigating the crash alongside the Federal Aviation Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The plane, a twin-engine IAI Astra 1125, crashed around 3 p.m. on Sunday when the airplane came down short of the runway as it was attempting to make an emergency landing

Local reports showed what appeared to be plumes of white smoke rising from an impact site. The airport was closed in the aftermath of the crash. 

Mayor of Betanzos, Maria Barral, said on Twitter: 'Dismayed after hearing the news of the passing of a Betanzos, his wife and son in a plane crash in Virginia, in which two other people also died.'

'My condolences to the family and their loved ones on behalf of all Betanzos.' 

There have been a number of fatal small plane crashes so far in 2024. 

A young family-of-five including three children, 12, 10 and 7, perished in fireball in Nashville last week.

Victor Dotsenko, 43, his wife Rimma, 39, and their three children David, 12, Adam, 10, and Emma, 7, died on Monday next to Interstate-40 when their single-engine plane crashed and burst into a fireball.

Last month a plane crashed on to I-75 in Florida - killing two people.

The video shows the private jet piloted by 50-year-old Edward Daniel Murphy and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, that crashed when its engines failed.

The two pilots died on impact, but thanks to their ability to guide the Bombardier Challenger 60 on to the crowded highway, three others onboard survived.