Jim Tweto died in a tragic plane crash with his flying partner Shane (Picture: DISCOVERY /@arieltweto/Instagram)
Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild Alaska star Jim Tweto was killed after a small plane crashed shortly after it took off on Friday morning.
The 68-year-old aviation expert was a regular fixture in the show that told the story of his family-run aviation business.
Ahead of the weekend, it was reported by Alaska State Troopers that Tweto was spotted steering a small plane into the sky but it failed to climb before it came crashing down.
Confirming news of his death, Tweto’s daughter Ariel posted a tragic statement to her Instagram.
It read: ‘I didn’t think anything could hurt this bad.
‘And I don’t know why I’m writing this but the news is out so I figured you hear it from me.
She shared a collection of images of her father online (Picture: Instagram)
‘And i’d take any other type of pain if he could just land today.
‘My dad and a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family passed away this afternoon in his 180.
‘He died doing what he truly loved and is now with uncle Ron up there soaring.
‘Please send love to both of them and my mom, sisters, and his wife and family [sic].’
She shared a variety of pictures of her father as well as a screenshot of the final text message he sent her which said: ‘Faith you just can’t have enough’.
Ariel also mentioned Shane Reynolds from Idaho, 45 – ‘a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family’ – who also died in the crash alongside her father.
Hunting and fishing guide Reynolds left behind a wife, Gina, and daughter, Juliet who have since set up a Gofundme donation page as a result of the tragic accident.
So far, the page is reported to have raised £27,782 ($35,628) as a way to help with expenses following the pair of deaths, according to the Daily Star.
News of the crash was said to have reached officials via an SOS activation at 11.48am.
Once the alert was sent in, a report followed very soon after that the plane had fallen out of the sky 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik in Alaska, USA.
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It was allegedly at that spot that the local authorities discovered the bodies of Tweto and Reynolds.
Metro.co.uk contacted Discovery Channel for comment.
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Tweto’s daughter confirmed the news via a sweet tribute to her late dad.