Last Friday, German business mogul Rainer Schaller, family, and crew members lost contact with their control tower and are suspected to have crashed in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Owner of Gold’s gym, Schaller is a very influential and well-known man. As of October 26th, rescue authorities have confirmed that two bodies were recovered. The private plane was destined for Costa Rica, with 5 German passengers and a Swiss pilot. The whereabouts and possible deaths of the remaining passengers have not been confirmed. Many questions about the cause of this crash remain. 

Because weather has been ruled out as the cause of this crash, this adds to the conversation around safety in private planes. One student explains, “private planes don’t seem as safe as commercial ones.” Including safety, many questions have risen about the ethics of private planes fuel consumption. Because of pollution, climate change has become a huge issue, and private planes are large contributors to this crisis. 

Nevertheless, a tragedy like this plane crash is the time to come together and support friends and family members of the victims of this crash. Another student stated, “I hope the families are ok.” As we await the news on the whereabouts of the remaining 4 passengers, who are presumed dead, people around the world have echoed support. In conclusion, the loss of an influential man and those travelling with him will be mourned and missed.