Alabama father, two daughters killed in plane crash deep in the Montana wilderness

An Alabama father and his two young daughters were killed after their plane crashed deep in the wilderness of Montana.

The small plane carrying pilot Mark Anderson, 62, and his daughters, Lainey, 22, and Ellie, 17, went down on Friday at around 4:30 p.m. in a remote area of Bob Marshall Wilderness, People reported.

Powell County Sheriff Gavin Roselles wrote in a press release that radar contact with the aircraft was lost over a remote section of the 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness, prompting the deployment of air resources from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls for a search that extended until midnight.

The plane was located by a volunteer aircraft operating under the Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics division the following day at around 9 a.m.

“Members of the Powell County Coroners Office, Missoula County Search and Rescue, the Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department with assistance from the Montana DNRC, arrived on scene around 1600 hours,” Roselles wrote.

“The pilot and two other occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.”

The investigation is now being led by the FAA and NTSB after being turned over by the Powell County Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to the victims being publicly identified, the Monte Sano Baptist Church in Huntsville asked its community for prayers for the missing family.

“Mark, Lainey, and Ellie Anderson (father and daughters) went missing yesterday while flying to Polson,” the church wrote in a Facebook post before authorities confirmed their deaths.

“Mark is an experienced pilot, and we’re holding onto hope that he made a safe landing in a remote area. Weather complicated and delayed rescue efforts, but search teams are back out this morning.”

News of their deaths sent shockwaves through their Alabama community.

Following confirmation of their deaths, Sanders Aviation in Jasper — where Lainey trained — revealed in a heartbreaking Facebook post that she had recently earned her certification as a flight instructor.

“Lainey graduated from Auburn University’s Professional Flight program where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity,” the flight school wrote.

“Lainey was an exceptional and skilled aviator and a beloved flight instructor at our Jasper Campus. She was dedicated to her craft and students.”

The flight school asked the public to “please pray for her mother, Misty and all of her family and friends.”

“Her Sanders family will remember her with love and admiration. God Bless you and keep you, Lainey,” the school added.

“We join our Auburn Alpha Chi sisters in praying for the family and friends of Lainey Anderson, PC ‘21,” her former Sorority, AXO-Epsilon Zeta Epsilon, wrote on Facebook.

Her former college roommate, Katie Giddens Parker, wrote in a somber Facebook post that she has “no words” to describe the hurt she feels for the loss of her close friend and her family.

“Lainey Anderson was one of the first friends @maryavnor made through @auburnalphachi and they were immediately the BEST of friends. and roommates for three years. She was one of the very first friends that we met and immediately fell in love with her,” Parker wrote.

“And over those years, we got to know and become friends with her and precious family. Mark, Jay and Lainey would always talk airplane and flying.”

In a heartfelt Facebook tribute, Element Dance Company, where Ellie danced, wrote that the Anderson family was “in our every thought and prayer” and wished them strength “during this unimaginable time.”

“We will all take Ellie’s quote: ‘Let all that you do be done in love” into every second of every day moving forward,’” the dance company wrote.

“There is so much more to say and we will say it and share it forever and ever and over and over but right now it’s a “moment that the words don’t reach…”