Disturbing cockpit audio captured the final seconds before a twin-engine jet crashed Thursday evening near Lansing, Michigan, killing all three people on board. The Hawker 800XP aircraft had taken off from Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field for a post-maintenance test flight when the pilot was heard urgently shouting, “Stall, recovery! Stall, recovery!” moments before losing control. Air traffic controllers attempted to confirm the plane’s altitude before realizing communication was lost. Witnesses later reported seeing the jet plummet to the ground, followed by a plume of black smoke.
Officials confirmed the crash occurred around 5 p.m. local time in Bath Township. According to Kellogg Field Aviation Director Phil Kroll, the aircraft had been undergoing system tests following maintenance. Duncan Aviation, which serviced the jet, stated that two customer pilots and a maintenance representative were aboard, none of whom were company employees. Federal investigators with the FAA and local police are examining the wreckage to determine the cause of the fatal stall. Duncan Aviation said its priority is supporting the families and colleagues of those killed in the tragedy.
Key Points
- Audio captured the pilot yelling “Stall, recovery!” moments before the fatal crash near Lansing, Michigan.
- The jet was conducting a post-maintenance test flight when it went down, killing three people.
- FAA and local authorities are investigating the cause while Duncan Aviation supports victims’ families.
‘Stall, Recovery!’: Moments Before Deadly Plane Crash Caught On Audio
Chilling moments just before a plane crashed outside Lansing, Mich. Thursday evening were captured on audio, according to TMZ.
A twin-engine jet took off from Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field, only to crash around 5 p.m. local time, killing all three people on board, FOX17 reported. In audio obtained by TMZ, the pilot and tower were heard communicating before the jet began to fall.
“Stall, recovery! Stall, recovery!” the pilot yelled to the air traffic controller as he fought to maintain control of the jet.
“What is your altitude? … Do you read?” the air traffic controller asked, before realizing the pilot was then gone.
In response to the incident, the air traffic controller radioed other planes in the area to watch for black smoke rising from the ground.
Video footage and photos shared online showed the plane falling from the sky, followed by a cloud of black smoke from the crash site.
WATCH:
A Hawker 800XP, XA-JMR, stalled and impacted terrain near Bath, Michigan, USA. The three occupants perished.
The aircraft was on a post-maintenance test flight.pic.twitter.com/ujhLLDl4Ha— Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) October 17, 2025
Kellogg Field’s Aviation Director Phil Kroll reportedly told FOX17 that the plane had previously landed at the airport for maintenance. While specifics on the work performed were not released, Kroll said the jet was conducting a test flight before the crash.
“They were just testing out some systems, and that’s when the problem occurred,” Kroll told the outlet.
Duncan Aviation, which performed maintenance on the jet, told FOX17 that those on board were two customer pilots and a maintenance representative, noting that none were Duncan employees.
“Right now, our focus is on supporting the families and friends of the crew, our team members who worked on the aircraft and developed close relationships with the aircraft’s representatives, and anyone else touched by the tragic event,” Duncan Aviation President Mike Minchow told the station.
With the cause of the crash still unknown, Bath Township Police are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate, according to FOX17.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Image/Matti Blume)
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