Middletown Mourning Loss Of Residents, Teacher Killed In Plane Crash

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Middletown Monday was mourning the loss of three of its own who died in a Vermont crash Sunday involving a small plane headed for Connecticut.

Vermont State police identified the four Connecticut residents killed as:

• Paul Pelletier, 55, of Columbia
• Frank Rodriquez, 88, of Lebanon
• Susan Van Ness, 51, of Middletown
• Delilah Van Ness, 15, of Middletown

A preliminary investigation determined that the four-seat, single-engine Piper aircraft left Windham Airport in Connecticut at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday for a two-hour flight to Basin Harbor Airport in Ferrisburgh, VT, according to Vermont authorities.

The four had brunch at Basin Harbor and then were headed back to Connecticut in the early afternoon, Vermont state police said.

When the occupants of the plane did not return to Connecticut at their scheduled time, the family grew concerned and police were notified. Middletown police obtained the last known location of the occupants' cell phones and determined that location to be in the area of the Basin Harbor Airport. That was passed on to federal and Vermont officials, police said.

Middletown school officials released the following statement Monday:

"Middletown Public Schools is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three of its community’s beloved members in a plane crash that occurred this past weekend in Vermont. Paul Pelletier, the remarkable Aerospace and Manufacturing teacher at Middletown High School, Delilah Van Ness, a cherished Middletown High School Sophomore, and her mother, Susan Van Ness, were aboard the small plane that crashed. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the Vermont State Police."

Added Superintendent of Schools Alberto Vázquez Matos, "This unimaginable loss has left a void in our hearts and our community," he said. "Paul, Delilah, and Susan were special individuals whose absence is already being felt throughout our district and city."

In response to the tragedy, Middletown Public Schools has implemented the following measures:

1. Middletown High School will be closed on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
2. All MHS Fall athletic competitions scheduled for September 10, 2024, will be postponed and rescheduled. Athletic practices on this day will be optional for student-athletes.
3. Crisis teams will be available at Middletown High School during normal school hours on September 10 to provide support, counseling, and assistance to students and staff.
4. Support staff will be present at all schools in the district to offer additional help as needed.

Officials said, "The school district encourages anyone in need of support to reach out to the available resources. Information on how to discuss death and unexpected tragedy with children can be found on the district's website on the "Resources for Challenging Conversations" page, under “death and unexpected tragedy”.

Matos said, "As the community grieves, Middletown Public Schools calls for unity and mutual support. The district aims to honor the memory of Paul, Delilah, and Susan by upholding their legacies of compassion, dedication, and kindness."

Local responders who had a strong connection to Pelletier also responded with a statement via the Middletown Professional Firefighters union.

"The men and women of Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073 extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Pelletier, Susan and Delilah Van Ness, and Frank Rodriguez on their tragic passing," the statement said. "Several of our members took their drone pilot courses through Middletown High and Mr. Pelletier, and he left a lasting imprint on each student he came in contact with. We all mourn alongside the residents of Middletown and the MHS family on his passing as well as Susan, Delilah and Mr. Rodriguez."