A tech entrepreneur and his wife were killed in a plane crash near the California-Nevada border amid snowstorm Saturday.
A TBM single-engine plane crashed in California while on its final approach to Truckee Tahoe Airport, according to the initial report posted by Truckee Tahoe Airport. At least two people were aboard the aircraft at the time.
“There are two known fatalities. It is not known yet how many people were onboard,” Truckee Tahoe Airport said in a statement. “Truckee Police, Truckee Fire, Nevada County Sheriff, Nevada County Coroner and Truckee Tahoe Airport staff were on scene.”
Israeli tech entrepreneur and wife killed in Calif. plane crash during snowstorm, leaving behind 3 kids https://t.co/1TEhiPWCav pic.twitter.com/IeTNlAs9Ds
— New York Post (@nypost) April 1, 2024
The victims were later identified by Israeli news outlets as Liron and Naomi Petrushka, who had been residing in California for several years, Times of Israel reported. They reportedly left behind four children. Liron was known for his previous involvement in soccer, having played for the Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim team, and their son Jordan had represented Israel in the junior soccer team, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Marine Corps Identifies Troops Lost In California Helicopter Crash)
“The club bows its head for the death of Liron Petrushka and his wife,” team chairman Einav Hazenvald stated, Times of Israel reported. “Liron grew up in the club from the age of 10 and passed through all the teams in the club, including the adults’ team. He played with me in the youth team, where we won the national championship, as well as in the adult team.”
Susan Bower, a local resident, recounted the moments leading up to the crash to KCRA. “I heard this airplane but very close right over the house and I was like, ‘Gosh that sounds awfully close,’” Bower told the outlet. “Seconds later, I could hear a big thud. I knew it went down.”