5 Ministers Die In Tennessee Plane Crash

(CBS/AP)  A plane carrying five Jehovah's Witness ministers crashed in a remote area of eastern Tennessee, killing all aboard, officials said.

The crash, which happened around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, wasn't discovered until more than eight hours later, when another pilot spotted the wreckage.

Authorities had to clear a path Sunday to get to the crash site in the Cherokee National Forest on Holston Mountain. Five bodies were found, said Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes. One of the ministers was believed to be the pilot, he said.

"They were working their way down the ridges and I think one of the crew members in the back just happened to see a wisp of smoke," Steve Lewis, of Johnson City Medical Center's Wings Air Rescue, told CBS News affiliate WVLT in Knoxville.

Rescuers say it took so long to find the wreckage because it was in a very rugged and remote area.

"In this part of the country, a crash site is very difficult to locate because when an aircraft goes into the trees, the trees give. The branches give and
it all kinds of closes back in over," Lewis told WVLT.

The single-engine Beech Bonanza crashed after leaving the Elizabethton Municipal Airport, officials said. The aircraft had taken off from Hamblen County and landed in Elizabethton to pick up two passengers. It was destined for Virginia Highlands Airport near Abingdon, Va., about 40 miles from Elizabethton.

Robert Burpitt, an elder with the Woodland Heights congregation of Jehovah's Witness in Kingsport, said the ministers were all from East Tennessee and members of a regional building committee that makes decisions regarding Kingdom Hall building projects. The names of the ministers were not released.

He said the men were on their way to Abingdon Saturday morning to meet with congregation members to discuss building a new church.

"All of the congregations in this region are devastated by this news, and will continue to keep the families in their prayers," he said.

[missilissa]

No words to describe the sorrow I feel for the families and friends of these Witnesses.

No words to describe the disgust I feel for the people who take a tragedy and use it to condemn.

Had the headline been "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you write the same filth? And please, tell me, if the headline read "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you expect the same treatment from JW''s that you''re giving them? No, because JW''s are taught to respect other people, no matter what, and to treat people with kindness.

You can spout the nastiness about Witnesses if you like, but I can guarantee that even still, were a terrible tragedy to occur to you, those same Witnesses would have nothing but kind and sympathetic words for you. That''s character.

[regpio4u]

Our Christian Brotherhood sends our loves and keeps all the families and friends touched by this tragedy in our prayers. HOPE is what we as Jah''s True Servants have which helps us live each day. We who have been blessed to been drawn to this organization has hit the JACKPOT OF LIFE! Remember it was Jesus who said "wipe the dust off your feet". Agape. Sis Spencer

[missilissa]

No words to describe the sorrow I feel for the families and friends of these Witnesses.

No words to describe the disgust I feel for the people who take a tragedy and use it to condemn.

Had the headline been "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you write the same filth? And please, tell me, if the headline read "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you expect the same treatment from JW''s that you''re giving them? No, because JW''s are taught to respect other people, no matter what, and to treat people with kindness.

You can spout the nastiness about Witnesses if you like, but I can guarantee that even still, were a terrible tragedy to occur to you, those same Witnesses would have nothing but kind and sympathetic words for you. That''s character.

[missilissa]

No words to describe the sorrow I feel for the families and friends of these Witnesses.

No words to describe the disgust I feel for the people who take a tragedy and use it to condemn.

Had the headline been "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you write the same filth? And please, tell me, if the headline read "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you expect the same treatment from JW''s that you''re giving them? No, because JW''s are taught to respect other people, no matter what, and to treat people with kindness.

You can spout the nastiness about Witnesses if you like, but I can guarantee that even still, were a terrible tragedy to occur to you, those same Witnesses would have nothing but kind and sympathetic words for you. That''s character.

[janwidmer]

We send our Christian Love to all who have Lost a Loved One. When know that Jehovah has promised a resurrection to those who have been faithful to the end. Time and unforseen occurances befall us all.

AGAPE from the Widmer''s in Myrtle Creek Oregon

[jlo006]

I can not help but also be disgusted by the actions many people have taken. As a family member of one of those men killed I am beyond hurt and disgusted. When I went to read comments I was expecting condolences but over shadowing kind wishes were hateful messages. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but sometimes those opinions are better kept to yourself. Personally I have been hurt by many of these messages but to those who wrote kind things I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[magikspells]

Honestly, I''m disgusted at what I''m reading from these comments to this article. I understand that people are entitled to their opinions, but did you ever stop to think that their families could see what you''ve written?

My uncle was on that plane and I find it incredibly disrespectful that you would debate religious ideology as if it supersedes what happened. Freedom of religion is a right that we are all granted, and I think it''s disgusting that you would think that in anyway makes this less of a tragedy.

I am not a Jehovah''s Witness and I don''t pretend that I know all of their practices. I''d just like to ask you all the gain a little perspective, and think about what you say before you say it.

[redsoxgirl87]

3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: %u201CLook! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.%u201D Rev 21:4 + 5

I know I didn''t personally know these friends and that a few small words via the internet won''t take away from the pain their families are currently enduring but thankfully they have the support and encouragement of all the brothers in the congregation & soon one day hopefully i''ll get the privledge to be able to meet them, until then my thoughts and prayers are with their families as I''m sure uncountable congregations in the world are doing so also. Thankfully we have the hope of the resurrection so we know this is a temporary state, but still very difficult to go through nonetheless.

Agape,

Sister Randolph

[missilissa]

No words to describe the sorrow I feel for the families and friends of these Witnesses.

No words to describe the disgust I feel for the people who take a tragedy and use it to condemn.

Had the headline been "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you write the same filth? And please, tell me, if the headline read "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you expect the same treatment from JW''s that you''re giving them? No, because JW''s are taught to respect other people, no matter what, and to treat people with kindness.

You can spout the nastiness about Witnesses if you like, but I can guarantee that even still, were a terrible tragedy to occur to you, those same Witnesses would have nothing but kind and sympathetic words for you. That''s character.

[missilissa]

No words to describe the sorrow I feel for the families and friends of these Witnesses.

No words to describe the disgust I feel for the people who take a tragedy and use it to condemn.

Had the headline been "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you write the same filth? And please, tell me, if the headline read "5 Catholics die" or "5 Baptists die", would you expect the same treatment from JW''s that you''re giving them? No, because JW''s are taught to respect other people, no matter what, and to treat people with kindness.

You can spout the nastiness about Witnesses if you like, but I can guarantee that even still, were a terrible tragedy to occur to you, those same Witnesses would have nothing but kind and sympathetic words for you. That''s character.