Dad and two adult kids killed as plane broke apart in the air

A dad and his two adult children were killed when the small plane they were in broke apart in the air – just days before an important milestone.

An American plastic surgeon and his two adult children – who were both two days away from their college graduation – were killed when the small plane they were in broke apart in the air.

Dr Lucius J. Doucet III and his daughter Giselle and son Jean-Luc were killed in the mid-air disaster in Tennessee, officials said.

The single-engine Beechcraft V35 fell apart just south of Nashville about midday on Wednesday (local time), New York Post reports.

Giselle and Jean-Luc were set to graduate from Louisiana State University, where Giselle studied veterinary medicine and Jean Luc was an engineering student, according to WAFB 9.

Three people died after a single-engine Beechcraft V35 broke apart over Tennessee. Picture: Doucet Family

“It does appear that the flight did break up in the air,” Williamson County Sheriff Mark Elrod told reporters during a Wednesday news conference.

The wreckage from the plane left “a rather large debris field” spanning over half a mile (800 metres) that they would continue searching through on Thursday, he said.

Rough weather might have been a factor in the crash, a US National Transportation Safety Board official said Thursday, according to Louisiana newspaper The Advocate.

“If weather didn’t cause the accident, weather was a factor in the accident,” said NTSB aviation accident investigator Aaron McCarter at a news conference.

Emergency responders received a 911 call from a resident who said they saw an explosion and debris – and said there might have been a plane crash, about 12.05pm on Wednesday.

“It was quickly evident that this would be a search-and-recovery operation, not a search-and-rescue operation,” Elrod said.

The crash scattered debris over a more than 800m radius. Picture: WSMV

Louisiana State University said in a statement: “We are devastated to hear this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Doucet family and all those close to them.

“This is heartbreaking for the LSU community, but especially for those who know and love these two students, and those who were expecting to share graduation with them.”

The small aircraft was owned by Lucius Doucet, who practised in Baton Rouge and was remembered by colleagues as an “exceptional surgeon” that loved to fly planes, The Advocate reported.

“Dr Doucet was not only an exceptional surgeon, but also a compassionate man who touched the lives of countless individuals within our community,” Williamson Cosmetic Center said.

“His dedication to his patients was unmatched, and his kindness and empathy were felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Audio from Air Traffic Control discussed the plane starting to descend from 9000 feet — and revealed there were options for it to land 16 miles (26km) north, according to News Channel 5.

Air Traffic Control continued trying to reach the plane, but it wasn’t clear from the audio how the pilot responded.

“It sounds like contact lost,” the tower said.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Fire, Williamson County EMA and Williamson Health EMS responded to the crash.

According to the sheriff, authorities have received some calls about debris in yards and driveways, but no structural damage has been reported.

Authorities asked residents to avoid the area while crews continue to search and clean up the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the sheriff’s office, and the NTSB are investigating the incident.

This article originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission