A 27-year-old woman was fatally struck by a landing airplane at the Broken Bow Municipal Airport (BBW) in Oklahoma, US.
On the afternoon of September 29, 2023, a woman identified as Samantha Hayes, was on a lawnmower at Broken Bow Airport.
At the same time, a 1972 Bonanza A36 registered N9379Q, piloted by 70-year-old James Baxter, was preparing to land.
As Baxter descended onto the runway, he noticed Hayes on her mower. Despite his last-minute attempt to pull up and avoid the collision, the wing of the plane struck Hayes in the head, killing her instantly, KFOR reported.
It is still unclear whether Hayes was an airport employee or if she had permission to be on the airport grounds. Her exact location at the time of impact was not specified.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety are currently investigating the incident. As of now, no charges have been filed against Baxter.
Broken Bow Airport, located approximately 360 kilometers (about 223 miles) southeast of Oklahoma City, is a small municipal airport with no air traffic control.