The whole US is shocked – Plane carrying Brian Kolfage crashes into the desert, no one survives
Less than an hour ago, at 16:41 local time, a Beechcraft Baron B58 private plane crashed into the Arizona desert near the Sierra Ancha Wilderness. On board was Brian Kolfage – a US Air Force veteran, founder of the “We Build The Wall” campaign that shocked the whole country, along with a private pilot and a close assistant.
All three were confirmed dead at the scene.
Information from the Gila County Sheriff confirmed that the initial cause was determined to be the pilot suddenly having a stroke, leading to loss of control of the vehicle at an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet. An air traffic controller said:
“We received a distress call just 90 seconds before the radar signal disappeared. The last voice just managed to say ‘I… lost my mind…’ and then fell silent.”
Devastating scene in the heart of the Arizona desert: smoke, fire and scorched debris
Rescuers reached the scene after only 17 minutes, but all efforts were too late. The entire fuselage was shattered, the engine smoldering in the hot sand. Black smoke billowed, red flames splashed into the orange sky in the late afternoon, creating a chilling scene.
A rescue worker at the scene said:
“Nothing was intact. Everything seemed to explode in mid-air before hitting the ground. The left side of the plane was embedded in the ground like a blade.”
They found only burnt pieces of clothing, Brian’s signature mechanical arm broken in two, mixed with sand and molten metal.
Witness recounts terrifying moment: “I saw it come down like a bullet”
A local resident named Carlos Herrera, who lives 2 miles from the scene, recounted:
“I was standing watering my plants when I saw a small, sparkling object in the sky. At first I thought it was a meteor… but then it got bigger, came down like a bullet, made no sound other than an explosion that shook the ground.”
Meanwhile, a ranger patrolling nearby witnessed the fire from afar:
“I ran over, hoping for someone to survive… but when I saw the titanium prosthetic arm, I realized it was Kolfage.”
Soon, a 3km radius around the crash site was completely sealed off. Paparazzi were stopped from afar, but the first images of the spreading fire and the distorted wreckage were already circulating on social media.
Desperate Moment of Emergency – Rescuers Can Only Bow Their Heads in Silence
The helicopter medical team and paramedics landed 800 meters from the crash site, unable to get closer because the ground temperature exceeded 150°F (65°C). The three bodies were immediately identified at the scene as having no signs of life, burned beyond recognition.
Gila Police said:
“We had to use dental records and pieces of medical equipment to confirm the identity. Brian’s body was almost completely intact.”
CPR was not performed, as the body was no longer biologically viable for resuscitation.
Given the special nature of the victim, Brian Kolfage’s body was taken to the Luke Air Force Base military morgue instead of a civilian hospital. A military forensic team took over to conduct an advanced examination.
“Although he has been discharged, Brian remains an icon to the veteran community. We respect and treat this case with the highest priority.”
The international community is shocked: social networks explode with millions of shares
Less than an hour after the news was confirmed, hashtags like #GoodbyeKolfage, #PrayForBrian, #VeteranHeroGone climbed to the top 1 Twitter trending worldwide.
Politicians, journalists and veterans organizations across the US have spoken out:
Former President Donald Trump: “I used to call Brian a soldier who never surrendered. The world lost a true warrior.”
Senator Ted Cruz: “No matter what your views, you can’t deny that Brian Kolfage was a powerful voice of our time.”
Veterans of America: “He lost his legs in war… and today, we lost him in peace.”
Climax: Brian’s wife breaks down in tears before the media – military funeral to be held in Florida
Ashley Kolfage, his wife, appeared before the media at 6:22 p.m., her eyes red, her hands shaking as she held a portrait. She simply said:
“He survived Iraq. I can’t believe he died in America.”
The Department of Defense confirmed that Brian will be given a high-profile funeral, complete with an honor guard, artillery, and a flag draped over the coffin.
The tragic end – A sea of people, burning candles and a memorial song beside the burning plane
That same night, thousands of people came to the area near the crash site, lighting candles, hanging flags, placing pictures of Brian Kolfage and white flowers along the Arizona desert. A group of veterans knelt in a circle, singing “Amazing Grace” under the moonlight, beside the still-smoldering ashes.
“He fell last. But his sacrifice will live on,” a sign read.
