Russ Francis, a former tight end for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers, was allegedly died in an aircraft accident along with a pilot.
According to Lake Placid News, the incident happened at the Lake Placid Airport in Upstate New York on Sunday at approximately 4 p.m.
Emergency services in the vicinity, the Department of Environmental Conservation’s forest rangers, the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the New York State Police are said to have reacted.
However, Francis is said to have been killed in the crash along with Pilots Association’s Senior Vice President Richard McSpadden.
The report claims the ex-NFL star had recently purchased the Lake Placid Airways scenic tour business.
The 70-year-old Francis was a member of the Patriots from 1977 to 1980 and again from 1987 to 1989.
Between their two stays in New England, he played in San Francisco from 1982 to 1987, when he defeated the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.
Throughout his career, he was also selected to three Pro Bowls, a first-round draft choice, and the second team All-Pro thrice.
Prior to Sunday’s accident, Francis and Rives Potts, 74, had owned Lake Placid Airways together.
The mother of his kid, Kate Naiman, paid homage to the Patriots hero on Facebook, indicating that he was an avid supporter.
The tweet says, “I am devastated to share that my son’s father, NFL great Russ Francis, died in a plane crash Sunday afternoon with a friend.” “To choke those words out to Michael was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.
Russ’s sister Pixie, brothers Bill and Uncle, Michael’s sister Rachel and brother Riley, and Russ’s companion Jaxie are all being wished aloha. I hurt for each and every one of you.
For Russ, taking to the skies was a natural instinct, much like breathing. Bill Walsh used to get pretty upset with him when he would fly his P-51 Mustang for practice and land in the stadium parking lot. Though not today, there will be some solace in the knowledge that he passed away doing what he loved most. Not right now.
The jet crashed sideways at the base of an embankment near the end of the runway, attracting dozens of rescue workers to the site.
According to spokesperson Brandi Ashley of the New York State Police, Troop B is now looking into a minor private jet accident that happened at the airport.
