The family of Smash actress Megan Hilty died in a plane crash in Seattle on Sunday.
Hilty’s sister Lauren Hilty, her partner Ross Mickel and their child Remy were among 10 to die in a plane crash on Puget Sound in Mutiny Bay.
According to TMZ, Lauren was reportedly pregnant with a baby boy, who would be named Luca.
It is currently unknown what caused the crash and only one body was recovered. According to ABC News, no 911 call was made and the electronic tracking beacon was not working.
Northwest Seaplanes, which owns the plane, said it is working with the FAA, NTSB and Coast Guard to determine the cause.
The US Coast Guard has searched 2,100 nautical miles searching for the missing persons.
Also on board were civil rights activist Sandy Williams, Joanne Mera, pilot Jason Winters, Patricia Hicks, Luke Ludwig, Rebecca Ludwig and Gabrielle Hanna.
A beachgoer recalled how the plane went into the water “nose first” and caused a “big impact” before making an “explosion noise”.
Megan Hilty’s sister Lauren Hilty (pictured in the back row with Megan), her partner Ross Mickel and their child Remy were among 10 killed in a plane crash in Puget Sound
Mickel (pictured with his daughter Lyla) died. He owned a winery
A plane (pictured) with 10 people on board crashed on Puget Sound near Whidbey Island – near Seattle – on Sunday, killing everyone on board
Locals began boarding their boats to help the wreck on Sunday, according to King 5, until the U.S. Coast Guard showed up.
“It was probably 40 minutes [before they arrived]said a beachgoer to King 5. “They told us what to do [while they came]. Search for survivors and grab what we could essentially search for survivors.’
When the unidentified beachgoers arrived at the scene, which was about a mile away, “everything had already sunk.”
Only one body was recovered and the cause of the crash is currently unknown
Among the dead are Smash actress Megan Hilty’s sister Lauren Hilty, her partner Ross Mickel and their child Remy. Lauren was reportedly pregnant
“It was too late,” he told the outlet.
Beachgoers who helped with the wreck found little but a logbook, a pair of shoes, floating parts of the plane and the body of one of the women on board.
“There was nothing intact,” the man told King 5.
Mickel owned a wine shop called Ross Andrew Wineries which has been in operation since 1999.
His family, who spoke to King 5, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened and beyond devastated by the loss of our beloved Ross Mickel, Lauren Hilty, Remy and their unborn boy Luca. Our collective grief is unimaginable.
Hilty (pictured together) has not publicly addressed her sister’s death
Lauren was reportedly pregnant with her second child, Luca, when the plane crashed
Mickel’s family said they were “deeply saddened and beyond devastated by the loss” and that their “grief was unimaginable”.
“You were a bright and shining light in the lives of everyone who knew you. Although her time with us was too short, we will carry on her legacy.”
The Washington State Wine Commission also released a statement, writing, “We are deeply saddened by the news of Ross Mickel and his family. Ross had an incredible impact on the Washington wine community and we will miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with his loved ones as they navigate this extraordinarily difficult time.”
