Man who went to space with William Shatner dies in plane crash

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Blue Origin, tweets condolences to family of Glen de Vries

The New Shepard rocket carrying 'Star Trek' actor William Shatner launches from West Texas on October 13, 2021. AFP

The New Shepard launch was the rocket's second manned voyage into space. AFP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is being prepared for mission NS-18 in October 2021. Reuters

New Shepard NS-18 mission crew member William Shatner rings the bell before lift-off. Accompanying the 'Star Trek' actor are Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos, in rear, and crew members Chris Boshuizen, front, the co-founder of Planet Labs, and Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations, Audrey Powers. The fourth member of the crew, who is not pictured, is Medidata Solutions co-founder Glen de Vries. AFP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket is prepared for mission NS-18 in a still image from video. Reuters

The New Shepard NS-18 mission flight team, Audrey Powers, William Shatner and Glen de Vries ride to the launchpad. AFP

Staff monitor Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket as it is prepared for mission NS-18. Reuters

Onlookers assemble to watch the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket blast off. Reuters

Members of the media gather before Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts off from the launchpad. AFP

Chris Boshuizen, Glen de Vries, Audrey Powers and William Shatner are presented with commemorative coins before their suborbital flight. Reuters

The New Shepard rocket sits at the launchpad. AFP

From left: Chris Boshuizen, William Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries. Their launch is Blue Origin’s second passenger flight, using the same capsule and rocket that Jeff Bezos used for his own trip in July 2021. AP

Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts off from the launchpad carrying 90-year-old 'Star Trek' star William Shatner and three other civilians near Van Horn, Texas. AFP

The capsule of Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 is surrounded by ground crew after landing by parachute near Van Horn, Texas, in a still image captured from video. Reuters

Billionaire Jeff Bezos gives a thumbs-up outside the capsule of Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 after it landed by parachute near Van Horn, Texas. Reuters

Billionaire Jeff Bezos welcomes the four passengers on Blue Origin’s New Shepard mission NS-18 after landing near Van Horn, Texas. Reuters

Jeff Bezos, third left, greets Canadian actor William Shatner as he emerges from the capsule after landing near Van Horn, Texas, on October 13. The mission carried Shatner, Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, and customers Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries. EPA

William Shatner, who at 90 years of age became the oldest person to travel to space, discusses the suborbital flight with Jeff Bezos. EPA

William Shatner and Jeff Bezos after New Shepard's NS-18 mission. EPA

Recovery crews reach the New Shepard NS-18 mission capsule after landing on October 13. 'Star Trek' actor Shatner went where no nonagenarian has been before. AFP

The moment of lift-off as William Shatner and his fellow travellers aboard the New Shepard headed for a brief visit to space. EPA

A man who travelled to space with actor William Shatner last month was killed along with another person when a small plane crashed in northern New Jersey, state police reported.

"Such a tragic loss. Warm and full of life, Glen made us laugh and lit up the room. He was a visionary, and an innovator – a true leader," Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said on Twitter, adding he was "heartbroken".

"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," Blue Origin said in a tweet.

"His passion for aviation, his charitable work and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired."

Both De Vries, 49, and Thomas Fischer, 54, were aboard the single-engine Cessna 172 that went down on Thursday in a wooded area of Hampton Township.

The aircraft had departed from Essex County Airport in Caldwell and was headed to Sussex Airport when the US Federal Aviation Administration alerted public safety agencies to look for the missing plane around 3pm local time. Emergency crews found the wreckage around 4pm, the agency said.

De Vries founded Medidata Solutions, a tech company, and was a trustee at Carnegie Mellon University. He travelled aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft on October 13, spending more than 10 minutes in space after launching along with Shatner and others.

Along with De Vries and Shatner, Former Nasa engineer Chris Boshuizen and Blue Origin vice president and engineer Audrey Powers rounded out the all-civilian crew.

It was Blue Origin's second flight after Mr Bezos ventured in to space in July.

Fischer owned Fischer Aviation, a family-run flight school, and was its head instructor, public reports show.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

The Associated Press contributed to this report