WBTV mourning the loss of meteorologist Jason Myers, pilot Chip Tayag
The two men were killed in a helicopter crash Tuesday afternoon.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - WBTV Meteorologist Jason Myers and Sky3 pilot Chip Tayag were killed in a helicopter crash early Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened near Interstate 77 at the Nations Ford Road exit.
WBTV issued the following statement following the crash:
“The WBTV family is grieving a terrible loss. Our news helicopter Sky3 crashed mid-day Tuesday with two of our colleagues on board. Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. We are working to comfort their families in this difficult time. We appreciate the outpouring of support for our staff and your continued prayers for their families.”
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Myers grew up in Union and Catawba counties and watched WBTV as a child. His career took him to Raleigh, Texas and Virginia before he came back home to the Charlotte area.
He married his childhood friend, Jillian, and the two have four children together.
Jason went to North Carolina State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in meteorology. He started his broadcast meteorology career at KRBC-TV in Abilene, Texas, and went on to work at WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia, and was most recently the Chief Meteorologist for ABC 36 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Tayag came to WBTV in 2017 as an ENG pilot operating Sky3. He worked with the Total Traffic and Weather Network.
He had been a pilot for more than 20 years and was known in the company for being one of the best pilots and was constantly studying to make himself a better pilot.
“We always said that if we could duplicate Chip and his piloting skills, his organization abilities, and attention to detail, our company would be better off. He always cared about the job he was doing and strived to make all his passengers comfortable while covering the news in Charlotte,” the Total Traffic and Weather Network said.
Tayag had flown the WBTV helicopter for over 2,000 hours in his five years with TTWN and had accumulated over 3,700 total flight hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
“Tragically there are two people who will not be going home and spending the holidays with their loved ones. I ask that we pray for the families,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said in a press conference about the crash.
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