Canadian family of five killed in horror plane crash in Nashville is identified as friends post heartbreaking tributes over the death of the parents and their ‘beautiful’ children

The Canadian family of five killed in the horror plane crash in Nashville has been identified.

Victor Dotsenko, his wife Rimma and their three children Emma, ​​Adam and David died Monday next to Interstate-40 when their single-engine plane crashed and burst into a fireball Monday evening.

National Transportation Safety Board official Aaron McCarter said Victor mysteriously flew over John C. Thune Airport before flipping and crashing around 8 p.m., and investigators have “no idea why.”

The children’s school, UMCA Rich Tree Academy, posted a heartbreaking tribute to the family.

“These beautiful children lit up our hallways every day. They all had such a positive energy and attitude towards friends and teachers,” the private school said.

“Words cannot express the deep sadness and grief we experience as we mourn the loss of the Dotsenko family.”

Investigators are examining the wreckage after the Canadian family was murdered Monday night

McCarter said it could take months to determine the reasons for the crash, and the incident was even more tragic because it is “always difficult when children are involved.”

Although miraculously no one on the ground was killed or injured in the crash, the Nashville Fire Department described the tragedy as “catastrophic.”

At Tuesday’s news conference, officials said they could provide few details about the crash as the investigation was still in its preliminary stages.

It is unclear whether the plane experienced navigational problems during its flight, as it overshot the intended runway at 8,000 feet for several miles before making the U-turn, after which it crashed.

Harrowing cockpit audio revealed the frantic final moments inside the plane as the engines cut out within sight of the runway, as the father warned air traffic control: “I’m too far away, I won’t make it.”

The minutes-long noise from the plane appears to begin after the pilot sends a distress alert to air traffic control, as the operator asks the pilot, “Do you have any John C Airport in sight?”

Shocking footage has captured the moment the plane exploded in a fireball along the highway, killing all five on board

Witnesses reported seeing the plane coming from the north across the highway and crossing lanes before hitting the grassy median

“I’m not sure,” the pilot answers.

The operator calls the aircraft by its phonetic name “Charlie, Foxtrot, Bravo, Whiskey, Hotel” during the audio.

“Are you trying to land on John Thune?” they ask.

“My engine is turned off,” the pilot replies. “I’m at 1,600 (feet)…I’m going to land, I don’t know where.”

The air traffic controller says they are ‘declaring an emergency’, but reassures the panicked-sounding pilot that they have the runway ‘within shot’.

“Right runway 2, right runway 2 at John Thune, do you have the airport in sight?…you can land,” the operator continues.

Some have noted that the pilot seemed inexperienced and more distressed than anyone else.

He is heard saying that he has the airport ‘in sight’, but admits: ‘I’m too far away, I’m not going to make it.’

“Okay… uhhh,” the operator responds for a few seconds, before instructing the pilot to try to drive onto the runway without using his engines.

“See if you can slide in there, sir. Glide in, they’ll clear the runway for you.’

James Hollin, a Nashville resident and former city councilman, said he was driving along I-40 after the incident.

‘My children tried to massage their necks but couldn’t make out what it was that was burning so bad. “They kept saying it wasn’t a car and I didn’t expect it to be a plane,” he said The Tennessean.

Gripping cockpit audio captured the panicked final moments of a pilot as the engines of his single-engine plane failed in John’s line of sight. C Thune Airport in Nashville

Shocking footage showed the single-engine plane exploding in a fireball next to the Inerstate-40

Witness Dion Burnley added in a Facebook live broadcast: “I had just seen this window crash on I-40, it went down and exploded. I thought it was a car that had crashed.”

Witnesses reported seeing the plane coming from the north across the highway and crossing lanes before hitting the grassy median.

Nashville International Airport spokesperson Stacey Nickens said the plane, a C-FBWH, left Mount Sterling, Kentucky, around 7:19 p.m. and was expected to arrive at John C. Tune Airport in Nashville around 7:43 p.m.

Following the tragic accident, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell paid his respects to the five people who died in the crash.

“Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of everyone aboard the single-engine aircraft that crashed near Interstate 40 tonight,” he said on X.

“I would like to thank the Metro emergency responders who arrived quickly and extinguished the fire.”

King Township Canadian Mayor Steve Pellegrini also made a heartfelt announcement about the family’s loss.

“On behalf of King Township, I extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the Dotsenko family from our community who tragically lost their lives in the small plane crash in Nashville, Tennessee,” Pellegrini said.

“This is a heartbreaking and devastating loss for our close-knit community. As we await further details from the ongoing investigation, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”

“We also express our gratitude to the first responders and officials involved in the response and investigation.”