CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coastal Bend family is asking for prayers after a training plane crash near Corpus Christi International Airport left a flight instructor critically injured and a student also hurt.
Family members identified the instructor as Cole Hohne, who works with Splendid Aviation.
The crash happened Monday evening during a training flight. Authorities say both Hohne and a student were on board when the aircraft went down, prompting a large emergency response.
Hohne suffered burns over 75 percent of his body, according to his family.
In a statement, Hohne’s grandmother, Shari Hohne, said, “He was involved in a horrific plane crash while instructing a student in Corpus Christi Monday. He was airlifted to Best Army hospital for burns in the country. We are taking it 1 hour at a time! He needs your prayers.”
His father also described what happened during the crash, saying Hohne acted heroically as the plane was engulfed in flames, pulling his student from the aircraft and using his bare hands in an attempt to extinguish the fire before both were transported for medical care.
The Corpus Christi International Airport released a statement confirming the crash happened during a training flight Monday evening.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and officials have not released additional details at this time.
3NEWS will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
More from 3NEWS on KIIITV.com:
Email tell3@kiiitv.com so we can get in touch with you about your story should we have questions or need more information. We realize some stories are sensitive in nature. Let us know if you’d like to remain anonymous.