smartwatch leads rescuers to deadly plane crash site in Montana

In a tragic incident near West Yellowstone, Montana, three individuals lost their lives in a plane crash. The single-engine Piper PA-28 aircraft left West Yellowstone Airport late Thursday night. However, it never reached its destination, prompting concerns about its whereabouts. On Friday, West Yellowstone Dispatch was alerted by the US Department of Transportation's Aero Division regarding the missing aircraft's last known location. The search operation began swiftly with two planes dispatched to search the vicinity. Utilizing data from a smartwatch worn by one of the passengers, search teams managed to locate the wreckage approximately half an hour after taking to the skies. The crash site was hidden in dense timber just south of West Yellowstone, making it difficult to access but crucial for the search crews to arrive at the scene promptly. Upon reaching the wreckage, responders confirmed that all three occupants – Rodney Conover, age 60, and Madison Conover, age 23, both from Tennessee, along with Kurt Enoch Robey, age 55, from Utah – were deceased. Their bodies were subsequently airlifted from the crash site and turned over to the county coroner as part of the investigative procedures following such incidents. The crash happened in the context of challenging weather conditions, which included gusty winds and chilly temperatures. As the investigation into the crash began, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are actively looking into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Sheriff Dan Springer expressed his profound condolences to the families affected by this tragic event. In this somber situation, the use of the smartwatch proved vital in a timely response, highlighting its potential life-saving capabilities in emergency scenarios.