A heartbreaking development emerged Thursday regarding the massive Canyon Fire that swept through the El Paso Mountains, south of Ridgecrest. A California pilot’s family has been identified as facing a tragic loss, linked to a suspected plane crash that may have sparked the devastating fire.
A GoFundMe has been established for Ramzi al-Shurman, his wife Nadine, and their three children. This follows the untimely death of Nadine, whose plane is believed to have crashed on Thursday morning, just prior to the fire’s initial reports in the remote area.
The fire spread rapidly, consuming more than 2,000 acres. It is reportedly associated with a 2006 Cessna 182T that vanished from radar shortly after departing from Injokern Airport in Kern County.
While the Kern County Fire Department has yet to confirm the crash, records from FlightAware reveal alarming details. The aircraft, tail number N227TF, took off around 10:47 a.m. Thursday, with the signal ceasing just seven minutes later, at 10:54 a.m. Notably, the final GPS coordinates from the flight almost perfectly align with the fire’s ignition point, which was first detected later that afternoon. The plane is registered to Top Flight Aviation in Corona, California.
This tragedy hits very close to home for Nadine and her children. According to the GoFundMe, “Yesterday, Nadine’s world changed forever when her husband Ramzi, 28, a newly graduated flight instructor, tragically lost his life in a plane crash.” Ramzi was on the cusp of starting his dream job as a private pilot, just ten days away.
Interestingly, just the week before, Ramzi had shared an emotional post on Instagram, reflecting on his journey. He mentioned the sacrifices made and the overwhelming joy he’d felt upon reaching this point, expressing his gratitude for Nadine’s unwavering support throughout his endeavors.
The GoFundMe campaign aims to raise $100,000, and so far, nearly $47,000 has been collected. The funds are intended to cover essential living expenses like housing, food, and educational supplies for their children.
As fire officials continue their investigations, they have stated that the cause of the fire remains “under investigation.” Firefighters are also dealing with the challenges posed by the rugged terrain of the El Paso Mountains, which complicates their access to critical areas. Reports indicate that fire suppression efforts have included air support.
As of Friday afternoon, Cal Fire reported that the fire was approximately 50% contained.
