Tragic Plane Crash Claims Father and Son Returning From Game
WHO:
NY Post - Kelsey Lewis, the heartbroken daughter of Jimmy Don Lewis and Brayden Lewis, expressed her grief, stating, “My dad and brother, they were… oh, they were thick and thin, they were so close, they did everything together.”
NY Post - Arkansas father Jimmy Don Lewis, 48, and son Brayden, 22, were killed in the crash.
WHAT:
Fox News - The private plane attempted a last-minute turn before spiraling into a tree line.
NY Post - The plane crashed while flying home from a St. Louis Cardinals game.
WHERE:
Fox News - The crash occurred in an Illinois tree line.
NY Post - The plane was flying home from a game in St. Louis.
WHEN:
NY Post - The crash happened Thursday night.
WHY:
Fox News - Authorities indicated that a developing storm was present at the time of the crash.
HOW:
Fox News - Flight data indicated that the plane was in a “descending spiral” before the crash, as reported by authorities.
Fox News - Flight data showed the plane's last-minute maneuver before the crash.
(UPDATED July 12, 2026 18:14 UTC)
Kelsey Lewis, the heartbroken daughter of Jimmy Don Lewis and Brayden Lewis, shared her grief, saying, “My dad and brother, they were… oh, they were thick and thin, they were so close, they did everything together.” Authorities have reported that flight data showed the plane was in a “descending spiral” just before the crash. This tragic incident has left the family and community in mourning as they grapple with the loss.
--
(UPDATED July 12, 2026 17:17 UTC)
A tragic plane crash in Illinois has claimed the lives of 48-year-old Jimmy Don Lewis and his 22-year-old son Brayden, who were returning home from a St. Louis Cardinals game. The private plane attempted a last-minute turn before spiraling into a tree line, with authorities noting that a developing storm was present at the time of the incident. Flight data revealed the plane's final maneuver just moments before the crash occurred Thursday night.