Air Force Academy cadet, two others killed in plane crash

An Air Force Academy cadet has died in a plane crash in Texas, officials said Monday.

Cadet 4th Class Timothy Barber died Saturday evening. He was on leave from the academy at the time.

Barber was killed when two private aircraft collided in midair about 35 miles north of Dallas, according to a statement released by the Air Force Academy.

According to local media reports, Barber’s father, Gregory Barber, a retired Air Force pilot, also died in the crash.

“This is a tragedy for the Barbers and for those of us in their Air Force family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as with their friends and loved ones,” said Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, academy superintendent, in a statement. “This is profoundly sad news for all of us at the Air Force Academy. We stand ready to support Cadet Barber’s family and also have resources at the ready to help cadets and staff to weather our loss.”

In all, three people were killed when two small planes collided in midair near McKinney, Texas, the Associated Press reported.

The third victim had not yet been publicly identified by authorities.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve near Aero County Airport, about 35 miles north of Dallas.

The Barbers were from Farmersville, about 45 miles northeast of Dallas, according to NBC 5 in Dallas-Fort Worth.

“Greg was a very beloved man in this community,” according to Farmersville Fire Chief Kim Morris, according to the TV station. “Anything that was going on, you could expect Greg and his boys there. Greg and Tim were very giving. They never asked. They just gave.”