An experienced female pilot was killed instantly after her plane crashed into a potato processing plant with a large chimney next to a rural airport in Idaho.
Brittney Infanger, 30, was flying UPS packages from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Burley, Idaho, when the tragedy took place last week.
Brittney, described as a ‘well-respected pilot beyond her years,’ had more than 11 years of flying experience around Utah and Idaho.
Her distraught father, Jim Bob Infanger, has said Brittney knew the area well and flew to Burley International Airport all the time. He blamed a hazardous chimney on the Gem State Processing Plant for the deadly crash – and called for authorities to close the nearby landing strip.
‘There’s a 60-foot chimney sticking out of the of the food processing plant – no lights on it, dead center – straight across the runway. So whenever you come in, you have to fly over the top of this and drop down,’ Jim Bob told local news outlet EastIdahonews.com.
‘The airport needs to be closed, period,’ Jim Bob said in the aftermath of the accident. ‘I’m a pilot myself and…many pilots have told me how unsafe the Burley Airport is and how they’ve begged the county to relocate it.’
‘They’ve allowed this potato plant to continue to expand and this chimney comes on and has a huge amount of steam. If the wind is blowing…you fly right into this wall of steam.’
The Burley Airport is on the bank of the Snake River. On the other side of the river is the Gem State Processing Plant. Jim Bob has said Brittney might have hit a bird in her way down when approaching the airport.
Brittney Infanger, 30, was flying UPS packages from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Burley, Idaho, when she crashed her single-engine 208B plane into the Gem State Processing Plant in Heyburn, Idaho
Brittney, described as a ‘well-respected pilot beyond her years,’ had more than 11 years of flying experience around Utah and Idaho
Her distraught father, Jim Bob Infanger (right), has said Brittney knew the area well and flew to Burley International Airport all the time. He blamed a hazardous chimney on the Gem State Processing Plant for the deadly crash
Brittney’s parents, Jim Bob (right) and Sharon Infanger (left) are now railing to get Burley International Airport closed
On April 13, Brittney took off from Salt Lake City International Airport around 7 a.m. before crashing into the Gem State Processing Plant in Heyburn
Heyburn Police and Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office said Brittney was flying too low while attempting to land.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the crash.
DailyMail.com has reached out for comment.
‘We’re just sad and horrified and heartbroken,’ Jim Bob told FOX.
Brittney’s parents have accused Cassia County officials of keeping the Burley Airport in operation despite reports of difficult landings from pilots.
Brittney worked for a company contracted by UPS. The experienced and highly regarded aviator was one of the main pilots chosen to fly the UPS routes.
On April 13, she took off from Salt Lake City International Airport around 7 a.m. before crashing into the Gem State Processing Plant in Heyburn.
First responders found Brittney’s single-engine 208B plane upside down. She was the only victim and the structure of the plant suffered little damage, authorities said.
Brittney’s parents told FOX she was a model daughter and pilot and had achieved so much in life.
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