THE Nelons – America’s beloved gospel family – have been involved in a fatal plane crash on route to a concert.
Seven people died in the horror accident including four members of the family in Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber and son-in-law Nathan Kistler.
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The families assistant Melodi Hodges, and the pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa also died.
The group’s fourth member, Autumn Nelon Streetman, wasn’t on the plane at the time.
Members of the band were heading to Alaska to join in with the Gaither Homecoming Cruise when their plane crashed over Wyoming.
The plane reportedly went up in flames when it crashed leaving fire crews and emergency responders rushing to the scene as a wildfire broke out.
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There were no survivors, say the Wyoming sheriff’s office.
Autumn Nelon Streetman released a statement on the tragedy saying: “As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber, and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry, and Melissa Haynie, were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday.
“Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark.
“We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the coming days.”
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A video taken moments before they boarded the doomed plane shows a smiling Jason talking to his family and the pilot on a runway in Nebraska.
The jet was a Pilatus PC-12/47E owned by Haynie Enterprises, according to Flightaware.com.
The National Transportation Safety Board is now set to investigate the crash.
Widely regarded as one of the iconic families in US gospel history The Nelons were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
Some of their biggest hits include I Shall Not Be Moved, Come Morning and We Shall Wear a Robe and Crown.
They have also earned three Grammy nominations throughout their career.
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