A small plane crashed near the Nest Event Center on the morning of 30/7 shortly after taking off from Indy South Greenwood Airport in Greenwood, Indiana, killing the pilot.

The Greenwood Fire Department later identified the victim as 44-year-old Anh-Thu Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American. Local authorities, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the crash.

The scene of the small plane crash in Greenwood on 30/7. Photo: Greenwood Fire Department

The scene of the small plane crash in Greenwood on 30/7. Photo: Greenwood Fire Department

Nguyen had previously shared on social media her plans to fly from Indiana to Pennsylvania. On her personal page, she identified herself as a Boeing 767 ferry pilot and the founder of the non-profit organization Asian Women in Aeronautics and Aerospace (AWAA).

Born and raised in Vietnam, Nguyen moved to the US with her family at the age of 12. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 2013 and a master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 2015 from Purdue University in Indiana.

She founded AWAA in 2018 to support flight training, provide scholarships, and offer mentoring programs for Asian women in aviation. In 2020, she opened Dragon Flight Training Academy in Florida, specializing in flight training and in-flight risk assessment.

In 2024, Nguyen became the 10th woman in history to fly solo around the world, according to a statement on Purdue University's website. Her journey lasted several weeks and included 25 stops.

"I've always craved the feeling of flying, of controlling an aircraft in the air. The feeling of being small and vulnerable yet powerful," she once said.

AWAA confirmed the death of its founder, describing her as an example of courage, a thirst for knowledge, and resilience. "From humble beginnings, she became a beacon of hope for thousands of young women," AWAA wrote.

Thanh Danh (Purdue, WTHR)