KEARNEY, Neb. — A quiet evening flight ended in tragedy, claiming the lives of two respected Kearney men and sending a wave of grief through the community. The victims of Wednesday night’s devastating plane crash northeast of the city have been identified as Dr. Mark H. Meyer, 77, and Kent O. Magnuson, 72, both beloved local figures.

The Federal Aviation Administration first sounded the alarm around 9:30 p.m. on August 27, reporting the aircraft overdue and missing on its intended route to Kearney Regional Airport. For hours, the fate of the plane and its occupants remained a mystery, its last known location a chilling clue several miles north of its destination.

As night fell over Buffalo County, a massive search operation sprang into action. Ground crews from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Kearney Police Department, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, and Nebraska State Patrol combed the area through the darkness, their efforts illuminated by patrol vehicles and determination. They were joined by support from Good Samaritan Hospital and other local law enforcement, a united front against the growing dread.

The breakthrough came at 10:07 a.m. on Thursday, not from a ground team, but from above. Utilizing advanced drone technology, first responders pinpointed the wreckage near the intersection of 145th and Imperial Roads. There, they discovered the shattered aircraft and confirmed the worst: both Dr. Meyer and Mr. Magnuson had perished at the scene.

In the aftermath, the Buffalo County Attorney’s Office has ordered autopsies as part of the standard procedure for such a tragedy. The investigation now enters a meticulous new phase, with local authorities working in close coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA to piece together the final moments of the flight and determine the cause of the crash.

As official inquiries continue, the human heart of the story remains. The community, while grateful for the relentless efforts of the first responders, now turns its focus to mourning and support. Officials expressed profound gratitude for the public’s assistance during the arduous search, a testament to the tight-knit nature of the area.

The thoughts of an entire city are now with the families and loved ones of Dr. Mark H. Meyer and Kent O. Magnuson as they navigate this unimaginable loss. Further details will be released in time, but for now, a community remembers the lives of two men whose final journey ended far too soon.