Indiana Plane Crash Ends Vietnamese Pilot’s Historic Mission

A tragic plane crash in Greenwood, Indiana, claimed the life of 44-year-old Vietnamese pilot An Tho Nguyen, who was attempting to become the first Vietnamese woman to fly solo around the world.

The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Indy South Greenwood Airport. The aircraft spiraled out of control and crashed behind a gas station. Nguyen was the only person on board and died instantly.

Her journey began on July 27 from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with Pennsylvania as her next destination. She had posted a video just minutes before takeoff, saying: “This is not just a flight, but a mission for the next generation of Asian women pilots and engineers.”

Nguyen held a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s in Aeronautics & Astronautics from Purdue University, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech. She was the chief instructor at Dragon Flight Training Academy and founder of the nonprofit “Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation,” established in 2018 to empower women in STEM and aviation.

Her tragic death has left the aviation community in shock, turning a dream mission into an unfinished legacy.