The only surviving member of the group has released a heartfelt statement about the tragic losses.
A plane carrying the Nelons, a cherished and renowned gospel family in the United States, crashed, tragically claiming the lives of all onboard.
Seven individuals lost their lives in this heartbreaking accident. Among them were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber, and their son-in-law Nathan Kistler.
Also on the plane were Melanie Hodges, a family associate, and the pilot Larry Haynie, along with his wife Melissa.
Their daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, fortunately, wasn’t on the plane at the time.
The band members were en route to Alaska to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise when their plane tragically crashed over Wyoming.
Witnesses reported the plane plummeting to the ground in flames, prompting firefighters and emergency responders to rush to the scene as a wildfire erupted.
According to the Wyoming sheriff’s office, there were no survivors from the crash.
In her statement about the tragic event, Autumn Nelon Streetman said, “As many of you know by now, my parents, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister Amber, brother-in-law Nathan, and our dear friends Melanie Hodges, Larry, and Melissa Haynie, were tragically involved in a plane crash on Friday.”
She added, “For the prayers that have already been said for me, my husband Jamie, our soon-to-be-born son, and Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark, I am deeply grateful.
Your prayers, love, and support will help us navigate through the upcoming days. Thank you.”
A video taken just before they boarded the ill-fated plane shows Jason smiling and talking to his family and the pilot on a Nebraska runway.
According to FlightAware.com, the aircraft was a Pilatus PC-12/47E owned by Haynie Enterprises.
The National Transportation Safety Board will now conduct a thorough investigation into the accident.
The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and remain one of the most influential families in the history of American gospel music.
