Mum hit and killed by plane as it landed while she was on …
A single mother was struck and killed by a plane while riding a lawnmower at a small airport.
Samantha Hayes, 27, was fatally struck in the head by the wing of the plane[1] at Broken Bow Airport in Oklahoma on Friday afternoon. The pilot, 70-year-old James Baxter, had already touched down on the runway when he suddenly noticed Hayes on her mower in the field.
Shocked, Baxter attempted to pull the 1972 Banaza A36 aircraft back up to avoid colliding[2] with Hayes but tragically failed to do so, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The mother of three was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident due to head injuries.
It remains unclear whether Hayes worked at the small airport. Broken Bow Airport only has one 3,200-foot runway and is not staffed with air traffic controllers. Instead, pilots self-announce their take-offs and landings over the radio.
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Broken Bow airport only has one runway and is not staffed with air traffic controllers (
City of Broken Bow)
Friends and family flooded the mother’s page with emotional tributes on Facebook[4].
“Samantha Hayes was a wonderful great mom to her 3 babies! She was a single mom who worked hard to give them a safe and loving home! These babies knew they were loved everyday all day!” wrote Darlene Tadleigh, a friend.
“Them babies will know how much their momma loved them. We never know when these things are gonna happen but they can and for her it did.”
“God knew [h]is plan for her and it’s hard for us to process because she was still needed here but his ways are higher than our ways even when it’s hard to understand,” she added.
The single mother leaves behind three children (
Facebook)
Carley Hayes wrote: “You was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, I’ve never heard you say a cuss word or talk down on anyone. You was so full of life and had a whole life ahead of you with your precious babies.
“You’ve got a whole family that’s gonna make sure them babies are good I promise.”
“I am so mad and upset I just don’t understand at all. You was literally my best friend and I’m so thankful for all of the memories we have I just feel like they wasn’t enough,” Hayes added.
Another friend, Brooke Dean, said she wished they’d had more time together.
“I loved getting to know you and hanging out. We never had a dull night we would always end up laughing the whole time,” she wrote. “I will forever cherish those memories we made they are absolutely precious to me. I wish we had more time, Sammy. We love you,” she added.
Baxter, the pensioner pilot, escaped the accident uninjured. Although the Federal Aviation Administration has no age limits for pilots, commercial airlines are banned from employing any pilots over the age of 65.
No further information has been revealed about Baxter and no charges have been filed against him. The incident remains under investigation.