Glen de Vries - latest: Lauren Sanchez leads tributes after Bezos Blue Origin passenger dies in plane crash
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Glen de Vries, 49, the businessman who flew into space with Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin last month, died in a small plane crash on Thursday.
The plane came down in Sussex County, New Jersey, just before 3 pm. Mr de Vries and Thomas Fischer, 54, were killed in the crash. The Federal Aviation Authority is investigating the incident. Mr de Vries was a private pilot in his spare time.
A trained molecular biologist, he co-founded the clinical research platform Medidata Solutions, which has managed more than 25,000 clinical trials involving 7 million patients. The company was acquired by Dassault Systems in 1999 for $5.8bn.
In October, Mr de Vries spent over 10 minutes in space with actor William Shatner, Australian entrepreneur Chris Boshuizen, and Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers.
A statement from Blue Origin reads: “We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries. He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates.”
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Dassault Systemes statement
20:38 , Oliver O'Connell
Mr de Vries was a trained molecular biologist and co-founded the clinical research platform Medidata Solutions, which has managed more than 25,000 clinical trials involving 7 million patients.
The company was acquired by Dassault Systems in 1999 for $5.8bn.
“Our thoughts and support go out to Glen’s family,” a Dassault Systèmes spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.
“Our deepest sympathy also goes out to our MEDIDATA team, which Glen co-founded. His tireless energy, empathy, and pioneering spirit left their mark on everyone who knew him. We will truly miss Glen, but his dreams — which we share — live on: we will pursue progress in life sciences & healthcare as passionately as he did.”
Lauren Sanchez offers condolences
20:31 , Oliver O'Connell
Jeff Bezos’ partner Lauren Sanchez posted a tribute to Mr de Vries on Instagram.
“Such a painful loss today. We got to know Glen de Vries, an incredible man, and his partner Leah last month,” she wrote.
“Leah’s love for Glen was visible every time we saw them together. When he took off for space she gripped my hand so tight it hurt. Thinking of that moment today with a broken heart. Our deepest sympathies go out to Leah and Glen’s family, we are so saddened by the tragic news.”
De Vries: ‘1,000 times more conviction’ to make space travel accessible to as many as possible
20:28 , Oliver O'Connell
After his flight on Blue Origin, Mr de Vries, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, told his alma mater’s local CBS affiliate that he hoped it would boost interest in space and that many more people would experience what he did.
“I thought that would be important to me before we went up, and having done it makes me feel twice as much conviction. Maybe a thousand times more conviction. That is something we need to make accessible, in an equitable way, to as many people on the planet as possible,” he said.
Mr de Vries advocated for making space travel cheaper so that more people could have the opportunity.
Blue Origin statement
20:20 , Oliver O'Connell
A tweet from Blue Origin reads: “We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries. He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates.”
“His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”
We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries. He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired. pic.twitter.com/1hwnjntTVs
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) November 12, 2021
Passenger on Blue Origin’s second flight
20:13 , Oliver O'Connell
In October Mr de Vries spent over 10 minutes in space on Blue Origin’s second flight alongside actor William Shatner, Australian entrepreneur Chris Boshuizen, and Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers.
In an interview with CBS Mornings before blastoff, he said: “I am actually looking forward to seeing the Earth from a different perspective than I ever had before.”
“I just can’t wait to stare out that window and feel differently about humanity and our planet than I’ve ever had the opportunity to before,” he added.
FAA investigating crash
19:59 , Oliver O'Connell
New Jersey State Police say that the small aircraft came down in Sussex County on Thursday just before 3pm.
Mr de Vries was accompanied by Thomas Fischer, 54, who also died in the crash.
The Federal Aviation Authority is investigating under what circumstances the incident occurred, police confirmed.
Mr de Vries was a private pilot in his spare time.
Glen de Vries died in a small plane crash on Thursday
19:54 , Oliver O'Connell
Glen de Vries, 49, the businessman who flew into space with Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin last month, died in a small plane crash on Thursday.
In October he spent over 10 minutes in space with actor William Shatner, Australian entrepreneur Chris Boshuizen, and Blue Origin executive Audrey Powers.
Mr de Vries was co-founder the clinical research platform Medidata Solutions, which has managed more than 25,000 clinical trials involving 7 million patients.
