The tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette, and her sister Lauren Bessette in a plane crash on July 16, 1999, shocked the world. The investigation into the crash revealed that the cause of the accident was pilot error, as JFK Jr was not qualified to fly in the conditions he encountered that night. But the question remains: would they have known their plane was crashing?
Based on the available information, it is difficult to say for certain whether JFK Jr, Carolyn, and Lauren would have known their plane was crashing. However, there are some clues that suggest they may have had an inkling that something was wrong.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the crash, JFK Jr’s plane was flying in hazy, dark conditions with limited visibility. The report states that JFK Jr likely became disoriented and lost control of the plane, causing it to spiral into the ocean. The report also notes that JFK Jr did not have an instrument rating, which would have allowed him to fly in those conditions.
One theory is that JFK Jr may have experienced spatial disorientation, a condition in which a pilot loses their sense of direction and orientation. This can happen when a pilot is flying in low visibility conditions and cannot see the horizon. Without visual cues, the pilot may rely on their inner ear to determine their orientation, which can be misleading and cause them to make incorrect maneuvers.
If JFK Jr did experience spatial disorientation, he may have been unaware that his plane was in a dangerous position until it was too late. However, there is no way to know for sure what was going through his mind in those final moments.
In an interview with People magazine shortly after the crash, JFK Jr’s friend and flight instructor, John K. Burke, speculated that JFK Jr may have been aware that something was wrong. “I think he knew he was in trouble,” Burke said. “I think he knew he was in a bad situation.”
Carolyn and Lauren, who were passengers on the plane, may have also had some indication that something was amiss. According to the NTSB report, JFK Jr made a series of erratic maneuvers in the minutes leading up to the crash, including a steep climb and a sharp turn. These maneuvers would have been noticeable to the passengers and may have caused them to feel uneasy.
Ultimately, we may never know for certain whether JFK Jr, Carolyn, and Lauren knew their plane was crashing. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of proper training and preparation for pilots, as well as the risks inherent in flying.
