Famed bush pilot and former star of the Discovery Channel series “Flying Wild Alaska,” Jim Tweto, died in a plane crash on Friday, June 15, along with his passenger.
Witnesses reported that Tweto’s Cessna 180 struggled to gain altitude during take-off before crashing. An SOS signal from satellite equipment on the plane identified the crash site as 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik, Alaska.
Alaska police found the bodies of Tweto, 68, and his passenger, Shane Reynolds, 45, at the crash site. Jim’s daughter, Ariel Tweto, shared the heartbreaking news of her father and Reynolds’ deaths on Instagram, expressing her profound grief. “My dad and a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family passed away this afternoon,” she wrote.
The Tweto family became known to many through the Discovery Channel’s “Flying Wild Alaska,” which depicted their small airline business based in Unalakleet over three seasons, starting in 2011. The show showcased the challenges and hazards of Alaskan bush flying, featuring tasks such as airdrops and daring takeoffs on treacherous terrain.
The crash that claimed the lives of Jim Tweto and Shane Reynolds is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Tweto, who originally moved to Alaska to play hockey for the University of Alaska Anchorage, discovered his passion for flying and went on to set up his own aviation company.
Shane Reynolds is survived by his wife, Gina, and their daughter in Idaho.
