Skydive the Falls released a heartwarming post on Facebook today on the loss of Melanie Georger, their employee who tragically died in a plane crash on Saturday.
"We are devastated at the loss of Melanie Georger," wrote Skydive the Falls on Facebook. "She was our family, our pilot, our quarterback who lead our team. She wasn't just a pilot but an aviator. The best of the best. No words can help cope with this tragedy. She will be dearly missed. We love you and will always miss you. You were a legend and legends never die."
WHAT HAPPENED
On July 20th at around 12:30pm, the Niagara County Sheriff's Communications Center began receiving 911 calls reporting a plane crash on the Niagara Scenic Parkway northeast of the Fort Niagara State Park in Lewiston. The initial investigation revealed that an airplane from Skydive the Falls had released all divers and was heading back when it crashed.
ABOUT MELANIE
Georger, who was born and raised in the Town of Tonawanda, attended Kenmore East and obtained a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University at Buffalo. Afterward, she started working to be a commercial pilot.
All that knew Melanie described her as a wonderful, caring and loving individual. Her father took to Facebook after the incident to share a statement:
“My beloved daughter, my best friend and one of the two lights of my life passed away suddenly today,” Paul Georger wrote. “Melanie was a pilot, on the cusp of realizing her dream to fly for the airlines. She was doing what she loved, flying for a local skydiving company, when her plane crashed.”
As investigations into the cause of the deadly plane crash continues, the community mourns the loss of a talented young pilot and reflects on the fragility of life. Our thoughts go out to Melanie's family, friends and loved ones.