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Two young Texan newlyweds died shortly after tying the knot on Saturday when the helicopter flying them from the wedding crashed into the side of a hill, Daily Mail writes.
Will Byler and Bailee Ackerman – final-year students at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas – are reported to have been killed an hour-and-a-half after they got married at the groom’s family ranch, with the pilot also dying in the crash, ABC 13 reports.
While the destination the helicopter was headed is unknown, the aircraft was found at Uvalde, Texas, just one kilometre from where the nuptials took place, Fox News writes.
Eric Smith, one of the guests, wrote on Facebook: “We celebrated their fairytale wedding and they were surrounded by their family and friends as they flew off in the family helicopter.
“Sadly they crashed into the side of a hill about a mile from the family ranch. The pilot, Jerry, was also on board. There were no survivors!”
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the crash on Sunday, saying they were still investigating exactly what happened.
The bride’s maid of honour, Jessica Stilley, paid tribute to her on Instagram with a photograph of the two of them.
“My sweet Bailee Raye, my heart is broken in a million little pieces as I sit here and think of the rest of my life without my best friend,” the post read.
“I’m so sad to even be captioning these pictures with this, but you know I just have to share with everyone how beautiful you looked on your wedding day like I normally would have.
“Standing beside you as your maid of honour, chasing your veil around in the wind Saturday as you said “I do” and you looking back at me saying ‘Thanks Jess’, it’ll replay in my mind forever.”
Sources: Daily Mail, ABC 13, Fox News
