Plane Crash That Killed 4 Students Might Have Been A Rush Event That Went Terribly Wrong
This is a weird story.
Relatives of a plane crash victim in Ohio are potentially filing a wrongful death suit in what might’ve been a fraternity rush event gone completely and horribly wrong.
On the night of Aug. 25, four students were killed when the plane they were in lost control and crashed in northern Ohio. The flight was possibly a recruiting event for Zeta Beta Tau at Case Western Reserve University.
ZBT is denying it, assuring the flight wasn’t a rush event. However, an ambiguous Snapchat story has both sides split on its intention. One of the students killed posted two Snapchat stories before takeoff. One was captioned, “cleared for takeoff.” The other said, “rush.”
The debate now is what he meant by the word “rush.” Was he implying that the night flight was a rush event? Or was he describing his state of mind?
The whole thing is incredibly sad. One half of me says, “Why the hell would you get in a plane with three other college kids?” but the other half sees how it could be thrilling enough for an 18-year-old kid to agree to go.
I’ve never heard of a rush event that takes place in an airplane. As cool as that sounds, it’s way too dangerous for any fraternity–or human being–to sanction.
[via ABC News]
Image via Twitter
of all days to publish this kind of story: why did you choose today?
10 years ago at 5:27 pmI went to highschool with Lucas marcelli, played football lacrosse and wrestled with him. Kid was a strai
10 years ago at 5:34 pmStraight workhorse**
10 years ago at 12:44 amHelmetStickers next time you get an unsubstantiated news story couldya just wait a little bit till the real investigators do their jobs?
10 years ago at 5:43 pmWere the people flying the plane members of ZBT? Was the person an incoming freshmen who hadn’t signed a house yet? These seem like the relevant questions to ask. If yes to both, then it sure as hell sounds like a rush event.
10 years ago at 5:45 pmNo, the flight was not a rush event. This is coming from someone very close to the boys in ZBT, and from one of Michael’s friends (he was the pilot). It was NOT a rush event. You can take a look at their recruitment calendar. Nowhere on it does it say “take two freshman on a plane ride”. Abe said rush in his snapchat because that’s where his head was at. It was the first day of rush for all of the fraternities on campus, and he was clearly excited to start the journey. The initial plan of the flight had been for two other sophomores to go, but they had decided at the last minute to stay back at the house. Michael then opened up the spots to anyone who wanted to go, and John and Abe happened to be the one to volunteer. Michael, being the friendly guy he was, wanted to share the fantastic experience of flying with these two guys, and of course let them join. It was a tragic accident, and no one could have predicted it. But it was in no way a planned out rush event.
10 years ago at 6:27 pmI’m an active ZBT brother. Fuck you, helmetstickers. Do your goddamn research and have some respect
10 years ago at 11:31 pmWhat? This article is about as neutral and not accusatory as an article can be. He even discussed how terrible this accident was before getting into the strange facts of the matter.
10 years ago at 5:49 amThere was absolutely no reason to tie it back to ZBT, it’s just bad press for the house now. He used the tragic deaths of a few people to get more traffic on the sight. As ^^ said, show some respect.
10 years ago at 8:49 amAs a member of the case western Greek community I just am astonished that you wrote something like this. At case we stand behind each other no matter the circumstance and I thought that held true for Greeks everywhere. Isn’t TFM suppose to be about bonding Greeks everywhere? So shouldn’t we be supporting each other and not writing articles about conspiracy theories with no legitimate proof of any kind that brothers and freshman were killed in a horrible accident. I just am very disappointed in this site for letting you post something so disrespectful for people who you are auppose to be bonding together for and having support for. I would also like to say that as all members of Greek life we are all well aware of the definition of rush and what rushing is so it really surprises me that any of you would even think of calling this a rush event given the details of that terrible night. I honestly pray nothing like this ever happens at your school so you never have to go through the scrutiny and ridicule and media attack that the brothers of ZBT have had to endure since the horrible tragedy. No one should.
10 years ago at 1:43 amAs a CWRU student I would like to make clear that this was a terrible accident. Yes this certainly was not an official ZBT sponsored rush event. However, there is no doubt in my mind that the two non-affiliates were rushing ZBT. Yes in the snap-chat he sent he was referring to the fact he was rushing ZBT, I believe all four on the plane did intend this to be an unofficial rush event. But the organization as a whole just thought of it as a completely independent event. I understand the parents opened an investigative report on every possible organization involved simply because it is standard procedure. That being said the organization of true blame in my mind is clearly the plane rental company.
10 years ago at 8:48 pm