US teen pilot aiming for world record killed in crash, father missing

Plainfield, Indiana: The US Coast Guard has found wreckage from an airplane piloted by a teenager who was killed when he crashed during an around-the-world flight, a spokesman said Thursday. A pilot spotted sections of the plane’s fuselage and other aircraft components Wednesday night in a remote section of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of American Samoa, spokesman Gene Maestas said. Ships later recovered some of the debris. The body of 17-year-old Haris Suleman was found shortly after Tuesday’s crash. Crews are still searching for 58-year-old Pakistani-born Babar Suleman, who was traveling with his son, Maestas said. [caption id=“attachment_1634233” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] 17-year-old Haris Suleman is greeted by students from the Citizens Foundation school in Lahore during his around-the-world flight. AP Photo/Courtesy: The Citizens Foundation[/caption] Haris Suleman had hoped to set the record for the fastest circumnavigation around the world in a single-engine airplane with the youngest pilot in command. His journey was also a fundraiser to help build schools in Pakistan. A man who said he saw the plane before it dove into the ocean said the aircraft was flying low but didn’t show any obvious signs of distress. Bert Thompson of Matuu, American Samoa, told The Associated Press on Thursday he saw no fire, explosions or emergency lighting on the plane. Thompson said he didn’t see the plane hit the water because it was too far offshore and too dark. He said he called police, and patrol boats arrived about an hour later. The Sulemans left their home on 19 June and were expected to arrive back on the US mainland on Saturday. Family spokeswoman Annie Hayat said the Suleman family “keeps asking for prayers for the safe return of Babar Suleman.” Family and friends defended the father-son team and their mission, saying they knew the dangers. Babar Suleman had long dreamed of flying around the world. Family friend Azher Khan said Haris Suleman’s brother was scheduled to arrive Friday in American Samoa. AP