wbtv traffic reporter killed
Every single day in this newsroom, Chip would wave at you, say hello, ask you how you are doing. He added, Jason Myers, he would bound through this newsroom with incredible energy and smiles and just cared about everybody., WBTVs Molly Grantham added, You often see us hashtag post #wbtvfamily, we are a family. If you pray, please pray for his family, the family of @JMyersWeather, and our @WBTV_News family. "Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. The WBTV family is grieving a terrible loss, the station said in a statement. According to WBTV,Tayag had flown for the station more than 2,000 hours in his five years and had more than 3,700 flights in his log. We are hurting. The day has come. He had just landed and he was about to go back up. He did his best to put it down. A television news helicopter crashed along an interstate highway in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, killing a meteorologist and a pilot for a local station, officials said. NCDOT officials said the crash happened near Exit 50. Myers had previously worked in Raleigh, Texas, and Virginia. NEW YORK (AP) _ A million people heard a reporter scream Hit the water 3/8 as her helicopter crashed into the Hudson River during a rush-hour traffic report, killing her and critically injuring the pilot. For hours after the crash, several lanes of traffic were closed to the public near the exit for Nations Ford Road. Dana Bash will replace John King as the anchor of Inside Politics. King will report on voters in battleground states heading into the 2024 election. 'Yes, I had a goofy look on my face because I was so excited to go flying with Chip in Sky 3,' Whisenant said of one of the pictures he share. In many markets, prior to the 2007 Phoenix crash, pilots flew the aircraft while also delivering traffic reports on air. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Jonathan Stacey will be joining Fox 5 Atlanta, Stacey (middle) alongside fellow WBTV reporters Mary King (L) and Abby Theodros (R), Stacey and fellow WBTC meteorologist Al Conklin. Those two helicopters were two of five aircraft covering a police chase. Jason was a meteorologist for our WTVQ ABC 36 News team for six years and we enjoyed every minute of our time together, ABC 36 General Manager Chris Aldridge said. The crash closed all lanes of traffic near Nations Ford Road, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Looks like a heroic incident where the pilot tried to avoid injuring anyone else and putting anyone else in danger. Mr. Tayag had been a pilot for more than 20 years and had worked at the station since 2017, with which he logged about 3,700 flight hours. He was formerly a meteorologist in Lexington, Kentucky, and moved to Charlotte to be closer to his North Carolina family. And we waited to report this information publicly to make sure that their wives and their families were notified first. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Please drive cautiously as we still have workers on scene,' officials with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said just before 4.30pm Tuesday. You can see the list here. In 2017, The Indianapolis Business Journal said, The history of news aircraft stretches back to 1940 when. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. WBTV is our news partner, and the people who work there are among the best humans in the business. It was the second crash this year for WNBC traffic reporter Jane Dornacker, 40, who swam to safety with another person in April after their helicopter plunged into the Hackensack River in New Jersey. And if that truly is the case, then that pilot truly is a hero in my eyes to make the that the safety and security of those that were driving on the road were not in jeopardy., A witness told WCNC TV, I think that he absolutely knew that he was gonna have to put that down, the man said. Colleagues said he loved what he did. Ms. Dornacker was taken to St. Vincents Medical Center where she was pronounced dead of drowning at 8:20 p.m. after prolonged efforts to revive her, said hospital spokeswoman Caroline McBride. Nothing about Jason was anything but happy, WBTV anchor Molly Grantham said during a broadcast Tuesday. Here is the full report: Hes really banking that helicopter around to get a shot of something. Deadly Charlotte helicopter crash: How do NTSB investigations work. Fighting back tears during a broadcast, anchors Jamie Boll (pictured right) and Molly Grantham (pictured left) mourned their colleagues while providing updates as they received them. 'Our thoughts are with our friends at WBTV on the loss of Jason Myers and Chip Tayag. Before his position at WBTV, Stacey was a meteorologist and environmental reporter at WJXST in Jacksonville, Florida. Some stations have turned to drones for the high-wide shots that they used to fly choppers to capture. The WBTV family is grieving a terrible loss. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Most Facebook users can now claim settlement money. We will have a moment of silence at tonight's Tree Lighting in their honor,' the team said in a tweet. The saying always was that people watch local TV for the weather, said Tuggle who worked in TV news for 16 years. More recently, TV stations began pulling their helicopters to save money and the net effect is there are far fewer aircraft in the sky. 'Jamie and I are learning it here as our newsroom is learning it and trying to figure it out while deeply grieving ,' Grantham said during the broadcast. Expand All. Boll and Grantham spent at least 90 minutes providing live coverage before halting to confirm the deaths of Myers and Tayag, having made sure their families were notified. Check out the results of our Popeyes vs. Bojangles biscuit poll, Charlotte-based SPX Technologies expanding HVAC business with $418M acquisition, Seeking answers. Family of WBTV meteorologist killed in helicopter crash files lawsuit, Charlotte meteorologist and pilot from WBTV killed in helicopter crash off Interstate 77, A final day of flying: hovering over uptown, South End and a deadly path along I-77, WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers wore a smile as he delivered Charlottes forecasts, He always made you feel safe. WBTV helicopter pilot Chip Tayag loved what he did, Unimaginable tragedy. North Carolina leaders react to Charlotte TV news helicopter crash, What to know: The Charlotte helicopter crash that killed 2 on I-77. Police officers found the two men dead at the scene, Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. Police are working to open two lanes of traffic on I-77 as soon as possible. He did his best to put it down. Thats where we find our hope., Whisenant then quoted scripture from 2 Corinthians 5:8: To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.. 'It seems the pilot that was operating the aircraft made some diversionary moves to avoid hitting traffic. First published on November 22, 2022 / 2:29 PM. . Myers was a North Carolina native and even 'watched WBTV as a child,' the station said in their statement Tuesday. Tributes began pouring in late Tuesday afternoon from friends, coworkers, and even those who did not know the pair. I don't butter up the dead, so when I say that Chip and Jason were two truly amazing men, I mean every word.Chip was ALWAYS cutting up and super patient when I was learning the ins and outs of Sky3.Jason was never in a foul mood. Charlotte Fire said the roadway is shut down at this time. Our news helicopter Sky3 crashed mid-day Tuesday with two of our colleagues on board. Another WBTV employee shared a photo of himself in the Sky3 helicopter that Tayag and Myers were in when they died in a memorial post. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Emergency workers at the scene of a helicopter crash along Interstate 77 in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday. The. While it was common for big markets to send four or five helicopters in the air every day, over the last decade, stations in major markets like Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Phoenix have started sharing a helicopter. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, We are hurting.'. He would bound through this newsroom with incredible energy and smiles and just cared about everybody here We are devastated.". WBTV is our news partner, and the people who work there are among the best humans in the business. The NPPA declared that pilot/reporters who appear live on camera in the sky should not do so unless accompanied by a co-pilot or a trained observer on board to help avoid collisions.. Tayag had been piloting the Sky3 helicopter since 2017 and had more than 20 years of experience as a pilot, WBTV reported. News helicopter crashes are rare these days, partly because there are fewer aircraft in the air than there were in the early 2000s, but also because some high-profile crashes led to newsrooms increasing their safety standards. Nearly two years and several extraordinary measures later, they identified 33 of the 43 people who had set off from West Africa. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a news conference that no other vehicles were involved, as the helicopter landed just off of I-77. He was one of the nicest people you would ever meet. Tuggle worked with Myers in the early 2000s when Myers was just a lanky student in the North Carolina State University meteorology program. Wacky weatherman Mark Mathis was fired as cohost of FOX News Rising at the end of August 2010, leaving FOX Charlotte for the second time. "It is a heavy day here at WBTV as our family is grieving, alongside Chip and Jason's families," Grantham said. Its going to be a difficult holiday season, CMPD Chief Jennings said. "We miss him already but can't wait to watch him shine in the ATL. I knew right away he was gonna be good.. The comments below have not been moderated, By He married his childhood friend, Jillian, and shares four children with her. Facebook privacy settlement: Who is eligible for a payment? He gave us happy moments in this community and helped us get through the sad moments, like funerals., Bryan said, He knew every little thing about that chopper. So happy for Jonathan as he heads to his new weather gig @FOX5Atlanta, but I sure will miss him. Hope Smith For Dailymail.Com In 1985, the company was grounded for 45 days for safety violations by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, say that a WBTV pilot acted heroically when he guided his helicopter away from traffic as the aircraft crashed and killed both the pilot, Chip Tayag, and. Federal judge rules Pennsylvania school district must allow After School Satan From bad to worse: Student misbehavior rises further since return of in-person Two hospitals may have violated federal law in denying woman an emergency McConnell insists hes sitting out debt talks to disbelief. She had moved to San Francisco in 1965. At this time of Thanksgiving, please wrap your prayers and thoughts around the Myers family as we remember a man gone too soon.. We are devastated for them,' the news outlet said. JONATHAN Stacey is a transit reporter and meteorologist for WBTV News This Morning. Jason and I are brothers in Christ. A 2020 photo shows the WBTV helicopter that crashed Tuesday. During a news conference after the crash, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings called Tayag a hero and said that his 'diversionary moves' saved countless lives. Intrepid museum on the west side of Manhattan. At the time, the company said that some of the information in the FAA directive was unfounded. The crash occurred near Interstate 77 at the Nations Ford Road exit at around 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon,. The crash occurred just after noon on Tuesday near Interstate 77. The broadcast did not cut away from a screen showing the pictures of Myers and Tayag for nearly two minutes as the anchors grappled with the news of their coworkers' deaths. Most of all, were heartbroken for their families.. Two WBTV employees were killed in a helicopter crash near I-77 on Tuesday. 'He always cared about the job he was doing and strived to make all his passengers comfortable while covering the news in Charlotte,' Total Traffic and Weather Network said after his death. (Twitter via WBTV). / CBS News. The National Transportation Safety Board will also assist in the investigation into what lead to the crash and the WBTV employees' deaths. Alex Slitz/The Charlotte Observer, via Associated Press. The FAA said in a statement said they are investigating the crash, which happened around 12.20pm. Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. In 2009, a TV news enthusiast compiled a list of nearly 120 TV stations around the country that had news helicopters. And if that is truly the case, then that pilot is a hero to hit my eyes,' Jennings (pictured) said. Two lanes on I-85 South in Gaston County are closed Friday morning following a collision near US-321 near Mile Marker 15.3 Heading South, according to the NCDOT. Support responsible news and fact-based information today! View our online Press Pack. TV Meteorologist and Pilot Die in Helicopter Crash in North Carolina, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/22/us/north-carolina-helicopter-crash-wbtv.html. Retrouvez l'ensemble de l'information trafic, travaux et grve des lignes SNCF | TER Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes. A study does not show that COVID-19 mask wearing raises risk of stillbirths, other health problems, News from CNN and ESPN, plus other media tidbits and links for your weekend review, To build trust in the age of AI, journalists need new standards and disclosures, Physical Sciences Reporter, C&EN - Washington, DC (20036), Advertising Sales Manager - Spokane, WA (99201), Visiting Faculty in Mass Communication, Journalism & Digital Media Production - Florence, AL (35630), NY Daily News Sr. Hollywood Gossip and Celebrity Columnist - Los Angeles, CA (90006), NY Daily News Hollywood Gossip and Celebrity News Reporter - Los Angeles, CA (90006), Latino Communities News Editor - Bilingual - Hybrid - Meriden, CT (06450), Executive Director - Nashville, TN (37201). Guys, you meant the world to me. For hours after the crash, several lanes of traffic were closed to the public near the exit for Nations Ford Road. Lori Guidice, WNBC advertising and promotion director, said Ms. Dornacker, born in Albuquerque, N.M., was named San Franciscos outstanding female comic three years in a row. Two weeks after the fatal helicopter crash that killed WBTV Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary findings into the crash. Later, she was a member of the satirical San Francisco-based rock band the Tubes. The helicopter, a Robinson R44 nicknamed Sky3, was from the station. Both were unconscious and not breathing when I found them, Hashagen, a blanket around his shoulders, said at Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated for exposure and released. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating what caused the crash. Meyers passion for weather can be traced back to a third-grade science project. The neighborhood is located between Beatties Ford Road and Interstate 77. And he was going to pick up Jason and they were going to head out. 'We send our condolences to the families of Jason Myers and Chip Tayag and everyone at WBTV after today's devastating tragedy,' the team wrote. Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise. It costs $400 to $500 an hour to fly it and another $125,000 or so a year for a pilot. Police said the southbound lanes, which were otherwise empty, of I-77 near Nations Ford Road would remain closed "for an extended period of time" in an update shared to Twitter. Can't wait to see all the great things you'll do!". or debate this issue live on our message boards. IE 11 is not supported. After the broadcast abruptly stopped, shaken disc jockey Joey Reynolds told listeners, OK, were going to play some music here or something and find out what happened to the helicopter.. The FAA said in a statement said they are investigating the crash, which happened around 12.20pm. I cant wait to share more about where I will land next," the reporter added. And many of us have been in that helicopter with Chip.. A boat containing 14 bodies appeared in the Caribbean. Tributes began pouring in late Tuesday afternoon from friends, coworkers, and even those who did not know the pair. And those smiles you see right there on the screen, those are those two people. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, and the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate it, the authorities said. In the statement published by the local news station, Tayag had been a pilot for more than 20 years and 'was known in the company for being one of the best pilots and was constantly studying to make himself a better pilot.'. The power lines are the only thing holding the top half of the pole up. By Two people have died after a media helicopter associated with WBTV News crashed on Tuesday along Interstate 77 south of Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Our news helicopter Sky3 crashed mid-day Tuesday with two of our colleagues on board,' the statement read. @jsrontv is leaving us and on to an exciting adventure in Atlanta! In just a few years back in Charlotte, he made an impact on his WBTV coworkers. We are working to comfort their families in this difficult time. But then on his second pass, I knew that something was not right. The helicopter was a 1999 R44 Robinson aircraft. 06:41 BST 23 Nov 2022. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Mathis, whose antics have made him a YouTube star, landed a gig out west on Good Day Sacramento for the CW affiliate by the end of the year. Myers grew to personify what a meteorologist should be, said Charlie Tuggle, senior associate dean for undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolinas Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The study was an article that reviewed studies. 'We always said that if we could duplicate Chip and his piloting skills, his organization abilities, and attention to detail, our company would be better off. Ms. Dornacker, a comedian, songwriter and actress who played sour-faced Nurse Murch in The Right Stuff had been with WNBC for less than a year, where, she had joked, Traffic is my life.. Theyre on for 24 hours straight.. Ms. Dornacker, a successful comedian and an actress who had a minor role in the movie The Right Stuff, was afraid to fly for several months after the earlier crash, colleagues said. But then on his second pass, I knew that something was not right. Rise and shine & come join us for your headlines! According to WBTV, Myers leaves behind a wife and four children. And I think that's as we move forward. And if that is truly the case, then that pilot is a hero to hit my eyes,' Jennings said. drones delivered stunning images of Houston flooding after a hurricane and a new era of aerial journalism began to grow. The television station, WBTV, identified those killed in the crash, which occurred around noon along southbound Interstate 77, as Jason Myers, a meteorologist, and Chip Tayag, a pilot. If youre all showing the same footage from the same helicopter, you have to ask yourself what the real value is, a Denver station news director who asked not to be identified told the Indiana Business Journal. Jilian and Jason were childhood friends and sweethearts. In 1998, then-WBT Traffic Reporter Steve Counts was doing an aerial report for John Hancock when the single engine Cessna he was traveling in suffered engine failure. In a photo posted to Instagram just days ago, Myers said that he and his wife Jillian, along with at least two of their children, had just gotten back from a trip to Savannah, Georgia. Newsrooms need accessible standards about their use of AI to maintain trust with news consumers and ensure accountability of the press. Roy Cooper of North Carolina called the crash a terrible tragedy for WBTV. 'We at Axios Charlotte wish to send our condolences to the friends and family of WBTV's Jason Myers and Chip Tayag, who died in a helicopter crash today. Firefighter Paul Hashagen, 35, swam 20 feet down to unhook Pate from his seatbelt and bring him to the surface. 'Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. Jason was a wonderful, devoted family man, said WRIC meteorologist John Bernier, who worked with Myers during his time in Richmond. David Whisenant, a reporter at the Charlotte television station, asked fans to pray for the WBTV family as well as the families of the victims. To me, it looks like a heroic incident where the pilot tried to avoid injuring anyone else and putting anyone else in danger. Gov. Colleagues said Jason was a father of four young children. Shortly after 11 p.m., South Sound 911 . Before that, he worked as a traffic reporter for WBTV News This Morning, where he also co-hosted QC Morning and reported the weather for WBTV News at Noon. Meyers passion for weather can be traced back to, He was part of the team. WBTV's reporting partner, Axios Charlotte, also issued a public statement Tuesday calling Tayag, Myers, and the entire team at the station 'among the best human beings in the business.' Two employees at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, were killed Tuesday afternoon in a horrific helicopter crash. "If that is truly the case then that pilot is a hero, in my eyes, to make sure the safety and security of those driving on the road was not in jeopardy.". "Every single day in this newsroom, Chip would wave at you, say hello, ask you how you're doing. He was a pilot for more than 20 years. Utility crews were still working Monday morning to restore power, which is estimated to be complete by 11 a.m. Pictured: Chip Tayag and his wife, who he just celebrated his three year anniversary with in August. Myers, 41, died in a helicopter crash Tuesday along Interstate 77 with Sky3 pilot Chip Tayag. We appreciate the outpouring of support for our staff and your continued prayers for their families.. And we feel lucky to be with people that we work so closely with, in such an intense career and to like our co-workers as family. She said, Chip is a long long-time pilot for WBTV, he is actually through a contractor company, but he has been here a long time and he is an experienced pilot. Hes really banking that helicopter around to get a shot of something. Myers grew up in Union and Catawba counties and watched WBTV as a child. But he lasted only four months there and was let go in March. He was a graduate of North Carolina State University. reported from an airplane above New York City. On Nov. 22, 2022, WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the WBTV family and we are praying for them and all of those in the media who work so hard to keep the public informed,' said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Medic said one person was seriously injured. "We just can't tell you the right words right now to tell you how much he meant to us and how much we are thinking of both of their families," Boll added. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is closing four ramps on Interstate 277 in Charlotte through April 15. The Charlotte community mourned a familiar, friendly face on their TV screens who never let people forget their umbrella and kept them safe during storms. Pray for the families. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Johnny Jennings tweeted his admiration for helicopter pilot Chip Tayag after Tavag and meteorologist Jason Myers died in a helicopter crash Tuesday.