Married Boston Doctors Among 4 Killed In Farmington, Connecticut Plane Crash
FARMINGTON, Connecticut (CBS/AP) – A couple from Boston was killed in a plane crash in Connecticut, authorities said Friday.
Courtney Haviland, 33, and her 32-year-old husband William Shrauner were among the four people on board who died Thursday when a small jet crashed into a building in Farmington. Both were doctors.
Shrauner and Haviland leave behind a young son named Teddy. Haviland was also pregnant with a girl.
"They were an amazing couple, amazing parents, they had a little baby on the way, said family spokesperson Matthew Mitchell. "They loved life, they loved each other. They met in medical school. They loved being cardiologists and they wanted to see people live to the best of their abilities."
Boston Medical Center, where Shrauner worked released the following statement: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our cardiology fellows, Dr. Will Shrauner, and his wife, Dr. Courtney Haviland. Will, a second year fellow at Boston Medical Center, was well known as an outstanding educator, physician, colleague and friend to many. Our thoughts and prayers are with Will and Courtney's family and loved ones."
MassGeneral Hospital For Children wrote about Haviland, saying: "She was universally loved by her colleagues and patients and lived a life full of meaning. Her bright smile and twinkle in her eye left an indelible mark on all who met her.
Investigators said there was apparently some type of mechanical failure during takeoff from the Robertson Airport before the jet slammed into a building at Trumpf Inc., a manufacturing company, and burst into flames.
The plane, a Cessna Citation 560X, was headed to Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, North Carolina, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The crash set off chemical fires inside the Trumpf building. Two employees were hurt but the company said the injuries were not serious.
Farmington is in central Connecticut, about 10 miles southwest of Hartford. It was Haviland's hometown.
"I think we are all reminded that each and every day is a gift, it's a blessing," said Dr. Mitchell. "We are not promised tomorrow, no matter how old we might be, and we want to live life to the fullest and to the best of our potential."
Mitchell tells WBZ-TV that the couple's son is in Connecticut with his grandparents. The family is planning funeral arrangements.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)