Student pilot from Chicago killed in North Dakota plane crash
BUXTON, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota's aerospace school has cancelled all flight activities after a student pilot from Chicago was killed in an airplane crash.
The University of North Dakota plane went down about 8:30 p.m. Monday in a field near the Traill County community of Buxton, in northeastern North Dakota, according to the Highway Patrol. The Grand Forks-based school identified the victim as 19-year-old John Hauser, a student majoring in commercial aviation from Chicago.
Hauser, a sophomore, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Robert Kraus, dean of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, ordered a "safety stand down," halting all flight activity Tuesday.
"Out of respect for the family we stress that you should not speculate about this event and let the investigation takes its course," Kraus said in an email to students and school officials.
University officials said counseling services are being offered to students.
"The loss of a member of our UND community affects us all," UND President Andrew Armacost said in a statement.
UND's aviation school is one of the largest such programs in the country, with more than 1,800 students and 500 faculty members.