HOUSTON — People nationwide are mourning the loss of six people who died after a mid-air plane crash in Dallas.
A lot of local connections to this tragic story have emerged. The two historic military planes that collided and crashed were kept at a hangar in Conroe.
The B-17 Bomber had just been involved in a series of performances at the Wings Over Houston air show two weeks ago. We're also now learning one of the six victims is from the Houston area.
Craig Hutain was a pilot who lived in Montgomery, just northwest of Conroe.
Dave McLeod, pictured below behind Hutain, said they had flown together off and on for 25 years and that Hutain "lit up any room he was in." He described Hutain as "one of the best pilots I've ever flown with."
The news of the tragedy shocked the aviation community.
David Lanoue, a member of the commemorative Airforce, also has a plane at the General Aviation Jet Services in Conroe. He reminisced and shared photos he's taken over the years of the historic military planes involved in the crash.
"It's shocking," Lanoue said. "I mean you deal with these people constantly, see the planes coming and going out, giving rides."
Video shows one of the last sightings of the B-17 involved, nicknamed 'Texas Raiders' as it flew over an elementary school in Richmond last week in honor of Veterans Day. It was one of just a handful of bombers left flying around the world.
As for the investigation, the NTSB has gathered evidence at the crash site. Now, they're asking the public for any pictures or videos of the crash to help them piece together what went wrong.