The two passengers injured on a small plane that crashed near Palo Alto airport were a mother and daughter headed to a children’s hospital for surgery.

Josh Olson, executive director of Angel Flight West, says the plane that crashed was operated by his nonprofit organization, which provides free medical transport to people with serious medical conditions.

He said the two passengers were a mother and daughter who were being flown from Redding to Palo Alto for a surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Forty-nine-year-old Nancy Dellamaria of Redding and her daughter, 16-year-old Chloe King, remain hospitalized. There’s no immediate word on their conditions.

Dellamaria’s sister, Nancy Paquette, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the two were on board the single-engine plane that crashed Tuesday morning while trying to land at the Palo Alto airport. The crash killed the pilot, a man in his 60s. His name hasn’t been released.

Olson said pilots who fly for the group are volunteers who are qualified pilots and vetted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating Tuesday’s crash.

Angel Flight West released the following statement in response to the incident: 

“With a heavy heart, Angel Flight West is saddened to share that at approximately 11am today, an airplane on an Angel Flight West mission was involved in an accident near the Palo Alto Airport. The pilot and passenger(s) departed Redding (KRDD) and were enroute to Palo Alto (KPAO).

The volunteer pilot is confirmed dead, and the patient and mother are currently being treated at Stanford. The directors, staff, volunteer pilots and mission coordinators of Angel Flight West are deeply saddened that this accident occurred, and their thoughts and prayers are with those on board the aircraft and their loved ones.

Angel Flight West is giving all requested assistance to the families involved and the government agencies involved with the accident. We will provide further information regarding the pilot and passengers as it becomes available and considering the privacy and permission of the families involved in the accident.

Angel Flight West delivers health and hope using donated flights to serve those with healthcare or other compelling human needs. In the air, Angel Flight West links volunteer pilots and commercial airlines with people whose non-emergency health needs require air transportation to access care. On the ground, volunteer drivers ferry passengers to and from their departure and destination airports. The costs of all flights and drives are donated. There is never a charge for an Angel Flight West mission. Angel Flight West is comprised of over 2,500 volunteer pilots and drivers covering the 13 western states. During our 35 years of providing service to passengers in need, and over 75,000 donated flights, this is the first accident occurring with an Angel Flight West passenger on board.”

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON: 

>>MORE STORIES