Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey faced unimaginable tragedy on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, when four members of his family were killed in a helicopter crash in rural Montana. His son, Zachary Bailey, was piloting the aircraft when it went down near Ekalaka, a remote town in the southeast corner of the state, claiming the lives of Zachary, his wife Kelsey, and two of their three children.
The victims included 12-year-old Vada Rose and seven-year-old Samuel. The couple’s third child, 10-year-old Finn, was not aboard the helicopter at the time of the accident. Carter County emergency services responded to the crash at 7:22 p.m. on Wednesday evening, according to NBC Montana reports.
The Bailey campaign announced the deaths early Thursday morning in a statement shared across social media platforms. The family expressed that Darren and his wife, Cindy, “are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss” and indicated they were “finding comfort in their faith, their family, and the prayers of so many who love and care for them.”
Zachary Bailey regularly piloted helicopters for both the family’s agricultural operations and his father’s political campaigns. The Bailey family operates a third-generation farming business in southern Illinois, where Zachary worked alongside his brothers Cole and Mason. The family farm’s website describes their commitment to being good stewards of the land and emphasizes how working together as a family has been essential to building their lasting heritage.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed Thursday morning it was investigating the crash of a Robinson Helicopter R44 in the Ekalaka area.
Darren Bailey, 59, is mounting his second campaign for Illinois governor after losing to Democratic incumbent JB Pritzker in the 2022 general election by a wide margin. That race drew national attention and became one of the most expensive nonpresidential campaigns in American history, with tens of millions of dollars in donations and spending from both sides. Bailey secured the Republican nomination that year and received an endorsement from Donald Trump after appearing at a campaign rally with the former president in June 2022.
The grain farmer and conservative politician previously served in both chambers of the Illinois state legislature, representing parts of southern Illinois. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024, narrowly losing the Republican primary for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District. Bailey is currently running for the 2026 gubernatorial nomination alongside Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar as his running mate.
Political figures from across the ideological spectrum offered condolences following news of the tragedy. Governor Pritzker, Bailey’s political rival, became emotional at a news conference in Chicago on Thursday while discussing the loss. He and his wife released a statement indicating they were devastated to learn of the passing of Zachary, Kelsey, Vada Rose, and Samuel.
Pritzker recalled losing his own parents at a young age during his remarks and acknowledged the profound grief the Bailey family must be experiencing. He stated that his prayers and deep condolences were with the Baileys during their time of grief.
Ted Dabrowski, one of Bailey’s Republican opponents in the 2026 race, also expressed sympathy in a statement. He indicated that he and others grieved with Darren and Cindy Bailey, acknowledging that the family’s deep faith and strong family ties would support them through the difficult time ahead.
Darren and Cindy Bailey have four children and 13 grandchildren, who feature prominently in the candidate’s campaign materials. The family requested privacy as they grieve and hold their loved ones close.
The tragedy occurred just days before candidates for office in 2026 could begin turning in petitions to the State Board of Elections to qualify for the ballot on Monday, October 27. Bailey campaigns on a conservative platform that includes strong opposition to abortion, robust support for gun rights and law enforcement, and criticism of criminal justice reforms implemented in recent years.
Nearly a month after the tragedy, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report on November 13, 2025, offering the first official account of what led to the crash. The agency stated that the helicopter involved was a Robinson R44. It had taken off from a private ranch and was flying alongside a plane toward Ekalaka Airport in southeastern Montana when the incident occurred.
The pilot of the accompanying plane reported losing visual contact with the helicopter during the trip. A witness on the ground saw the aircraft descending and noticed an object fall from it. The witness then observed the helicopter attempt to climb before it ultimately went down. Investigators later discovered debris spread across a wide, open field, with no evidence of fire or explosion at the site.
In its initial assessment, the NTSB said early signs suggest a possible in-flight structural or component failure at low altitude may have contributed to the crash. The agency stressed that the investigation is still underway and noted that determining the probable cause could take several months. The helicopter, built in 2014, was registered to Bailey Aviation Management LLC of Xenia, Illinois, and its latest airworthiness certificate had been issued in June 2022, according to FAA records.
Campaign spokesperson and running mate Aaron Del Mar told the Associated Press that Zachary Bailey was a commercial helicopter pilot with an instrument rating, as well as a private single-engine airplane pilot with an instrument rating. Del Mar said Zachary first earned his rotorcraft certification to help deliver medical supplies overseas and had been in Montana on a business trip to expand the family’s agricultural helicopter operations. Despite the profound loss, Darren Bailey announced he would continue his campaign for governor of Illinois.
