Fatal Plane Crash In East Hartford: FBI Investigates ‘Intentional Act’

As Connecticut residents were wrapping up their Tuesday afternoons, news carried quickly of a fatal plane crash in East Hartford around 3:30 PM, just outside Pratt and Whitney headquarters. FBI investigations are currently undergo as to whether the crash was an intentional act or not.

Investigators suggest that the plane crash had criminal intent, according to statements made by survivor and flight instructor, Arian Prevalla. It has been reported that a certain altercation had occurred inside the cockpit, between trainee Feras M. Freitekh and Prevalla. As the plane had crashed into a utility pole on it’s final destination to Hartford-Brainard Airport, Freitekh was presumed dead, leaving Prevalla critically injured.

Due to the crash’s close proximity to Pratt and Whitney, Connecticut's manufacturer of aircraft engines for civil and military purposes, the public was prompted to create the assumption that the crash was an intentional act of terrorism.

“Our police chief actually notified the FBI because of the critical infrastructure—Pratt Whitney—which was in the crash area on the other side of the street,” Mayor Marcia Leclerc of East Hartford said.

Although suspicion of terrorism had been concerning to the public, this assumption was ruled out. Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy, suggests that he has not decided to increase security due to the crash.

‘‘I’m not aware of any specific threats associated with this action,’’ Malloy told officials on Wednesday. ‘‘If I was, then we would take those steps. I am not currently aware nor have I been made aware of any specific threats.’’

Officials have reported this incident rather an attempted act of suicide. According to the instructor's observation, the student pilot was “disgruntled,” and felt pressured by family about learning to become a profession pilot.

It’s difficult to determine the course of action and confrontation that had taken place during the plane on Tuesday afternoon. Although, reports from instructor Prevella led us to assume that trainee Freitekh wasn’t in the right state of mind.

In addition to the plane’s dual controls, allowing both the pilot and co-pilot to control the aircraft, it is unclear as to who had control of the plan when it had crashed.

“It’s troubling, but I also know that stories change and information can be skewed,” Mayor Leclerc states. “We’re waiting for the facts to come out.”

Bystander of the incident, Erick Zapata, tells the Hartford Courant he has never seen anything like it. “Out of nowhere a plane crashed into the pole. Pieces started flying everywhere...I was nervous, I was shaking, It was crazy.”

U.S. officials had reported that other than the injuries to the passengers on the plane, two individuals in a minivan nearby were taken to a hospital with no bodily harm, in addition to knocking out power to approximately 500 residents. “The path that the plane took could have been much worse,” East Hartford’s Police Chief Scott Sansom said. “So we’re very fortunate in that sense.” ​ The FBI’s investigation continues, still highly concerned of the exact series of events and intentions relating to the crash. We as the public, are still left uncertain as to what exactly happened in East Hartford last Tuesday afternoon.