“Double tragedy in the snow: Alexis Ohanian’s final flight silences the world”

The wind howled through the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada this morning, carrying the acrid smell of burning fuel. As the sun rose, California rescuers spotted debris scattered across the mountainside — the remains of the Gulfstream G700 private jet carrying Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams.
According to the initial report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane lost contact at 6:42 a.m., just minutes after taking off from Reno, bound for San Francisco. There were five people on board, including Ohanian, two technical assistants and the flight crew. No survivors.

The scene of devastation and the terrifying explosion

A witness who lives near the small town of Truckee recounted in tears:

“We heard a loud noise like thunder, then a double boom — boom… boom! — then complete silence. When we ran outside, the sky was filled with black smoke and flying snow.”

The first photos taken by Reuters showed the burned-out fuselage, nearly 300 meters from the tail, while a broken wing lay exposed in more than half a meter of snow. Rescuers had to move by specialized vehicles and helicopters, but a sudden snowstorm interrupted the process of reaching the scene for hours.

Police confirm identity – paparazzi and fans choke up

Around 10 a.m., a Placer County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed:

“We found a male body that matches Alexis Ohanian. DNA testing is underway to confirm.”

As the news spread, hundreds of reporters, paparazzi and fans gathered outside Sacramento County Hospital, where the body was taken. Police had to set up a fence, while many fans burst into tears, holding Ohanian’s portrait with the Reddit icon – the alien Snoo – as a tearful farewell.

A female student shared on Twitter:

“He was not only the founder of social media, but also a symbol of kindness and creativity. I still can’t believe this is really happening.”

Double incident: Rescue helicopter crashes second

While the body collection was underway, a double tragedy shocked the country.
The CA-112 rescue helicopter, carrying medical teams and first aid supplies, left the scene at 11:20 a.m. when it suddenly lost control due to a heavy snowstorm. The plane crashed into a pine forest area just 3 km from the first accident site, killing two rescue workers and seriously injuring three others.

California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “the darkest day for the rescue industry in 2025” and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across the state.

A desperate moment of rescue in the snow

According to a preliminary report, when the first rescue team found Ohanian’s body, he still had a weak heartbeat of 20 bpm thanks to his cold-proof jacket that kept his body warm.
Medical staff tried to perform CPR and shock his heart 3 times on the spot, in the blinding snow wind.
A nurse tearfully recounted:

“We saw his smartwatch still flashing green — as if he was still trying to send a final signal. But all efforts were in vain.”

Hospital lit up all night — Serena Williams fainted upon arrival

At around 4 p.m., Ohanian’s body was taken to a special ICU for identification. Serena Williams, who had canceled all her schedules and flown home on a private jet, arrived at the hospital in a state of panic.

Witnesses said she got out of the car and cried out her husband’s name, then collapsed in the arms of her bodyguards.

“She couldn’t say anything, just held a family photo and kept whispering, ‘He promised he’d be home in time for dinner.’”

That night, the white lights of the ICU remained on for hours. Outside, hundreds of fans gathered to light candles and hold up the hashtag #PrayForAlexis and a picture of Reddit Snoo wearing a black mourning scarf.

Global Reaction – The Internet is in mourning

The news has sent shockwaves through the tech and sports communities around the world.

Elon Musk posted on X: “Alexis was one of those rare people who put humanity before technology. Heartbreaking.”

Mark Zuckerberg changed his profile picture to a black background with the words “/r/GoodbyeAlexis.”

Barack Obama wrote: “A father, a husband, and an innovator America was proud of. The world lost a soul.”

Reddit shares immediately fell 17% in early trading, while thousands flocked to its San Francisco headquarters to lay white flowers and candle-shaped Snoo symbols.

Mourning and a Promise of Remembrance

The US government has declared a national memorial for Sunday in San Francisco.

Ohanian’s last photo — a smiling image of him next to Serena and their two children — was hung across major buildings, accompanied by the words:

“Build kindness, not just platforms.”

Serena posted a single post on Instagram at midnight:

“You are the one who made the internet a place with a heart. I will keep my promise to nurture kindness for you.”

The Final Climax – The Official Announcement

At 6am the next morning, Sacramento Hospital issued a statement:

“We have confirmed Alexis Ohanian died of multiple organ failure and severe hypothermia. All efforts to save him were irreversible.”

The world fell silent. An internet legend had passed away, leaving a void that could not be filled – and a chilling reminder in the snow: technology may fly high, but the human heart remains as fragile as a last breath in a storm.