Current:Home > NewsJohn F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash 25 years ago today. Here's a look at what happened on July 16, 1999.-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash 25 years ago today. Here's a look at what happened on July 16, 1999.
View Date:2024-12-23 20:12:31
NEW YORK -- Tuesday marks 25 years since John F. Kennedy Jr., the only son of President John F. Kennedy, died in a plane crash off the coast of Massachusetts.
Kennedy Jr. was piloting the small plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard on July 16, 1999. His wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette were also on board and died in the crash.
He was 38.
Tragic flight ended 3 lives
As CBS News reported, the plane left Essex County Airport in Fairfield Township, New Jersey, at around 8:38 p.m. that evening. It was last seen on radar about an hour later, some 17 miles from the Martha's Vineyard airport, before it disappeared.
An emergency declaration was never made.
Five days later, the plane's wreckage and remains of the three people on board were found at the bottom of the ocean less than 10 miles off the coast.
An investigation by the NTSB blamed "the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was the result of spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were haze and the dark night."
JFK Jr. grew up before the eyes of the world
John F. Kennedy Jr. was born on Nov. 25, 1960, two weeks after his father won the 1960 presidential election.
The image of 3-year-old "John John," as he was affectionately known, saluting his father's casket became an iconic moment.
Kennedy went on to earn a degree from New York University School of Law, and later worked in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
He lived his life in the public eye, and was People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1988. He was also the subject of speculation about whether he'd ever run for office himself.
In 1995, he co-founded "George" magazine — named after our nation's first president — which ceased publication in 2001.
In 2000, a year after his death, the CUNY School of Professional Studies established the John F. Kennedy, Jr. Institute for Worker Education.
If he had lived, JFK Jr. would now be 64 years old.
- In:
- John F. Kennedy
Mark Prussin is a digital producer at CBS New York. He covers breaking news, sports, politics and trending stories in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Mark joined the CBS New York team in 2019.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- 'We suffered great damage': Fierce California wildfire burns homes, businesses
- Nick Cannon Pays Tribute to His and Alyssa Scott's Son Zen 2 Years After His Death
- At least 5 Iranian advisers killed in Israeli airstrike on Syrian capital, officials say
- U.S. personnel wounded in missile attack on Iraq airbase by Iranian-backed rebels
- Video ‘bares’ all: Insurers say bear that damaged luxury cars was actually a person in a costume
- The Wilderness Has Chosen These Yellowjackets Gifts for Every Fan
- Pageant queen arrested in death of 18-month-old boy in Georgia
- San Francisco 49ers need to fix their mistakes. Fast.
- Mike Williams Instagram post: Steelers' WR shades Aaron Rodgers 'red line' comments
- Ohio board stands by disqualification of transgender candidate, despite others being allowed to run
Ranking
- Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
- This magnet heart nail hack is perfect for Valentine's Day – if you can pull it off
- 70% of kids drop out of youth sports by age 13. Here’s why and how to fix it, per AAP
- Canada is capping foreign student visas to ease housing pressures as coast of living soars
- Shocked South Carolina woman walks into bathroom only to find python behind toilet
- Ohio board stands by disqualification of transgender candidate, despite others being allowed to run
- Costco brand added as illnesses rise in charcuterie meat Salmonella recall
- Floridians wait to see which version of Ron DeSantis returns from the presidential campaign trail
Recommendation
-
Footage shows Oklahoma officer throwing 70-year-old to the ground after traffic ticket
-
Germany’s parliament pays tribute to Wolfgang Schaeuble with Macron giving a speech at the memorial
-
Death on the Arabian Sea: How a Navy SEAL fell into rough waters and another died trying to save him
-
Michelle Trachtenberg slams comments about her appearance: 'This is my face'
-
'Yellowstone' premiere: Record ratings, Rip's ride and Billy Klapper's tribute
-
Dutch court convicts pro-Syrian government militia member of illegally detaining, torturing civilian
-
New study finds that multivitamins could help slow cognitive decline associated with aging
-
U.S. personnel wounded in missile attack on Iraq airbase by Iranian-backed rebels