Pilot Killed In NJ Plane Crash Went To Space With William Shatner

UPDATED: NOV. 12, 8:47 P.M.

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — The New Jersey State Police named the two victims of the single-engine plane crash who died in Hampton Township's Kemah Lake section of Sussex County on Thursday afternoon.

Thomas P. Fischer, 54, of Hopatcong and Glen M. de Vries, 49 of New York, New York, died in the crash, Trooper Brandi Slota, a spokesperson from the State Police, said early Friday.

Subscribe to Patch for local news updates to your inbox. (It's free) https://patch.com/subscribe

De Vries traveled along with William Shatner who played Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," in a "fully automated capsule constructed by Jeff Bezos' space tourism company, Blue Origin," in October, as well as Chris Boshuizen and Audrey Powers, for the second passenger flight in the capsule, after Bezos flew the first.

"Our thoughts and support go out to Glen's family," a Dassault Systèmes spokesperson, of which de Vries' Medidata is a subsidiary, told Patch on Friday. "Our deepest sympathy also goes out to our MEDIDATA team, which Glen co-founded. His tireless energy, empathy and pioneering spirit left their mark on everyone who knew him. We will truly miss Glen, but his dreams – which we share – live on: we will pursue progress in life sciences & healthcare as passionately as he did."

CNBC's Michael Sheetz, a Space Reporter for the news outlet, tweeted about de Vries as the CEO of Medidata and the "Blue Origin astronaut" who flew with William Shatner to space last month."

Horrible news: Glen de Vries, CEO of Medidata and Blue Origin astronaut who flew with William Shatner to space last month, was one of two people killed in a small plane crash in New Jersey yesterday, state police confirm. https://t.co/H8WphEbou3 pic.twitter.com/gPCShD5Mik
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) November 12, 2021

Blue Origin posted on Friday afternoon about the tragedy, describing de Vries as bringing "so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates."

We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries. He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired. pic.twitter.com/1hwnjntTVs
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) November 12, 2021

Boshuizen also tweeted about de Vries on Friday evening, writing that he took "some small consolation in knowing he [de Vries] fulfilled his life-long dream and lived his life to the fullest."

I am saddened to learn of the passing of fellow space explorer Glen de Vries. I take some small consolation in knowing he fulfilled his life-long dream, and lived his life to the fullest. My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and partner Leah. Glen will be dearly missed. pic.twitter.com/0j8iu13g1h
— Chris Boshuizen (@cboshuizen) November 12, 2021

Fischer was the owner and chief flight instructor of Fischer Aviation at Essex County Airport in Caldwell, where de Vries had started as a student in 2016, according to the school's website.

Trooper Charles Marchan, a spokesperson for the State Police, said Thursday evening that troopers arrived to the scene of the crash in Hampton Township at about 2:50 p.m., where there were "two confirmed fatalities."

A spokesperson for the FAA told Patch on Thursday that at about 3 p.m., the FAA sent out an alert that sometime after leaving Essex County Airport in Caldwell for Sussex Airport, the Cessna 172 went missing. State Police reported to the FAA at about 4 p.m., they had found the plane in "a wooded area of a state park near Lake Kemah," an FAA representative said.

According to information released by the FAA so far about the crash on Friday, the aircraft, which was classified as “destroyed,” “crashed under unknown circumstances in a heavily-wooded area.”

This is a developing story, Patch will provide updates as they are available.

Reporting contributed by Isaac Jones

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.