Eagles

UPDATE: The Pilot Who Died Was Not Carrying Eagles Banner, Per Report

By Kyle Scott

Published: Aug 9th, 2015 · 8:06 PM EDT

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Last week, we told you about the Go Fund Me campaign to fly a “We Got DeMarco” banner over Cowboys camp. [The Cowboys responded with a banner of their own, which flew over Eagles camp today.] The campaign was spearheaded by Eagles superfan The Mighty EROCK, who raised the $1,800 he was looking for and then some (including my $30)– totaling $2,458.

Today, the plane about to pick up the banner crashed upon takeoff, killing the pilot.

EROCK sent the following update to the Go Fund Me campaign:

You guys should hear it from me. It was my thing. There has been an accident at the airport just outside of LA. Give me a bit to clear my head, get the strength in my knees back….I’ll get back to you guys.

The update linked to the following story from NBC 4 in Los Angeles:

One person was killed Sunday when a single-engine plane crashed and burned during takeoff at Compton-Woodley Airport.

The plane, towing a banner, crashed at about 12:30 p.m. on a runway at the county-owned airport in the 900 block of West Alondra Boulevard, about two miles southwest of Compton’s central business district. Images from the scene showed the plane on fire, sending thick smoke over the airport.

The pilot was the only person aboard the plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot had just picked up a banner at the airport before the fatal crash, the agency said.

EROCK on Twitter:

What was supposed to be a fun thing has obviously taken a tragic turn.

We’ll have more on this.

UPDATE: LA Times story has witness who says he was trying to hook a Bud Light banner:

Enkone Goodlow, an artist who rents a hangar at the airport, said he and some spectators had watched the pilot repeatedly try to hook a Bud Light banner. The banner was tied to a mastpole on the ground and the pilot would fly by and try to snare it with a grappling hook dangling from the plane before pulling up.

It’s possible this was different pilot, plane or run.

UPDATE 2: 

Spoke to the pilot that was supposed to fly @Eagles Banner today. He is fine. Airport was closed, couldn't take off @6abc @TheMightyEROCK

— Steve McK (@StevePMcK) August 10, 2015

Not the guy. Still, probably a good idea to cancel the banner at this point…