William Anders, renowned NASA astronaut and member of the groundbreaking Apollo 8 crew, died in a plane crash in Washington state, as confirmed by his son, Gregory Anders, CNN reported. The 90-year-old space pioneer met his untimely demise in an aircraft incident in the San Juan Islands. My “dad passed in an aircraft incident in the San Juan Islands,” Anders told CNN Friday evening.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement disclosing that an aircraft had crashed off the coast of Jones Island. The initial report, received around 11:40 am PT, indicated that an “older model plane was flying from north to south then went into the water near the north end of Jones Island and sunk.” San Juan Sheriff Eric Peter relayed to CNN via email that the dive team was deployed to conduct a search at the scene.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Anders family is grappling with profound grief. “The family is devastated and grieving the loss of a great pilot,” Gregory Anders expressed. The San Juan Islands are situated approximately 90 miles north of Seattle.
William Anders, born on October 17, 1933, in Hong Kong, embarked on a remarkable journey marked by exemplary service and pioneering achievements. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1955, he was commissioned in the US Air Force the following year, earning his pilot’s wings. Anders’ tenure included serving as a fighter pilot in all-weather interception squadrons of the Air Defense Command in Calif.