Vikesh Patel, an Indian American engineer at GE Aerospace, tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Washington, D.C. on January 31, 2025.
Vikesh Patel, who dedicated over 11 years to GE Aerospace, is remembered by his colleagues and industry leaders for his commitment and invaluable contributions.
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Chairman and CEO of GE Aerospace Larry Culp, expressed his sorrow, stating that this is a tragedy not only for their industry but also for the GE Aerospace team. Their hearts are with his family.
Vikesh, based in the DC/Baltimore area, had also worked at GE’s Evendale facility in Cincinnati on multiple occasions, contributing significantly during his time there.
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Vikesh had recently transitioned to a new role as an MRO Transformational Leader in April 2024, a position he was excited to take on, according to his social media profile.
Another Indian-origin Asra Hussain Raza also died during this unfortunate crash.
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The crash involved American Eagle Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, which collided with an Army helicopter just outside Reagan National Airport.
The collision resulted in the death of all passengers and crew, including competitive figure skaters—many of them children—who had dreams of making it to the Olympics, along with their parents who supported them in their journey.
The crash claimed a total of 67 lives, sending shockwaves across the country. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities recovering flight data and voice recorders as they work to determine the cause of this devastating accident.
