Who Is John Rumpel Pilot, Jeff Hefner

May 2024 · 3 minute read

John Rumpel is popularly known as an American MAGA donor and Florida businessman. Rumple was on his way home from a four-day visit to his own estate in North Carolina when the jet crashed. The accident claimed four lives. As we take a look at John Rumpel’s life, we will also check who his pilot Jeff Hefner is. Keep reading for more details.

ALSO READ: Who Was John Rumpel’s Daughter, Victoria Rumpel?

John Rumpel Biography and Death

Rumpel was born on 13 August 1947. He was known as a prominent Florida businessman and political donor.

On June 4, 2023, tragedy struck when a Cessna passenger aircraft, owned by John Rumpel, a prominent MAGA donor and Florida businessman, crashed into Virginia Woods. The incident claimed the lives of John Rumpel’s entire family, including his daughter, a two-year-old grandchild, and her nanny.

The Cessna aircraft was registered to Encore Motors, a company owned by John and Barbara Rumpel based in Melbourne, Florida. The crash occurred as the plane was en route to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York. However, it entered restricted U.S. airspace over Washington, D.C., triggering an aerial pursuit involving Pentagon jets.

The pilot of the Cessna was unresponsive, leading to the interception by the Pentagon jets. During the chase, the jets broke the sound barrier, causing a sonic boom that reverberated across the Washington, D.C. area. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that the jets successfully intercepted the out-of-control aircraft, but unfortunately, the pilot had lost consciousness.

The Cessna ultimately crashed into mountainous terrain near the George Washington National Forest in Virginia. Despite the immediate response from first responders, no survivors were found at the crash site. The search for survivors was halted on Sunday night, leaving a devastated community and the Rumpel family grappling with an unimaginable loss.

Who Is John Rumpel Pilot, Jeff Hefner

Known for his role as the pilot for John Rumpel, Jeff Hefner was highly regarded in the aviation industry. He held an airline pilot rating that qualified him to operate Boeing 737 jets and various other aircraft, as per official records.

Notably, Jeff recently obtained a top-level medical certificate in October, highlighting his commitment to maintaining his health and fitness. However, tragedy struck when he was unresponsive during the flight, leading to the fatal crash of the Cessna with no survivors. It was determined that a lack of oxygen in the blood caused Jeff and three other passengers to be unresponsive to air traffic controllers’ attempts to establish contact. Despite efforts by other civilian aircraft to communicate with the ill-fated plane, no response was received.

Prior to this incident, Jeff Hefner had an illustrious career as a captain at Southwest Airlines, where he dedicated more than 25 years of his life. With over 25,000 flight hours to his credit, he had earned the respect of his peers and colleagues. His association with Southwest Airlines began in January 1993, as indicated by the records.

FAA records confirm that Jeff held an airline transport pilot license and possessed commercial piloting privileges for single-engine land and seaplanes. Following his retirement from Southwest Airlines, he pursued certifications as a captain for various aircraft. In addition to his aviation career, Jeff was also the owner of JRH AvGroup, as mentioned on his LinkedIn profile.

In terms of education, Jeff Hefner attended the University of Houston before furthering his studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he continued to enhance his knowledge and skills in the field of aviation.

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