Latest news with #JimWeller


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Who was Jim Weller? Steel tycoon, family killed in Ohio plane crash
A plane crash in Ohio claimed the lives of businessman James 'Jim' Weller, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. The family was heading to Bozeman, Montana, for a vacation when their plane went down just minutes after takeoff, according to The New York Post. Workers are pictured in front of a jet at the Youngstown - Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio, Monday, June 30, 2025, where a day earlier a plane crashed on take off killing all onboard. (AP) Weller, 67, owned Liberty Steel Industries. He was flying with his wife Veronica, 68, their son John, 36, and John's wife Maria, 34. They had just left Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport at 6:53 am on Sunday. The plane crashed less than seven minutes later - only two miles away - into a wooded backyard near a home. The pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55, were also killed. Maxin was an experienced flier and a former assistant prosecutor in Mahoning County. Who was Jim Weller? The Weller family was known across northeast Ohio—not just for their business but also for their ties to the racing world. Jim's father started Liberty Steel in 1965. The company went on to become a key supplier in the region. Jim was also a major part of Sharon Speedway's racing scene. He won 36 races in the Big Block Modified division and was a two-time track champion, per the outlet. Sharon Speedway shared their heartbreak in a statement: 'We are deeply saddened. His late father, Jim Weller Sr., co-owned the speedway from 2002 to 2024.' Ohio plane crash under investigation Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are looking into what caused the crash. The FAA is also helping. A preliminary report is expected later in July. According to 19 News, Fire Chief Raymond Pace called it the deadliest crash the area has seen. The plane reportedly hit a densely wooded area, making rescue efforts more difficult. Aviation expert Mike Hillman told the network, 'These were the best of the best. I wish we could turn back time and take them to breakfast instead.' Local community mourn Jim Weller's death The crash has shaken the local community. The Wellers were known for their generosity and strong family values. People who knew them are sharing memories and making plans to honour their legacy. Friends say they were the kind of people who quietly helped others and stayed grounded, even with all their success. 'These were the best of the best in terms of the folks here at the field as well as the pilots and I can't say enough about them and give anything to rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead,' aviation expert Mike Hillman told News 19. ALSO READ: Did American Idol winner Jamal Roberts reject key to city of Laurel? Here's what we know about death threats FAQs Q1. Who was James 'Jim' Weller? A1. Jim Weller was a steel tycoon from Ohio and the owner of Liberty Steel Industries Inc., a company founded by his father in 1965. Q2. What caused the plane crash involving the Weller family? A2. The exact cause is still under investigation by the NTSB and FAA. A preliminary report is expected later in July. Q3. Were there any survivors in the crash? A3. No. All six people on board - Jim Weller, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and two pilots - died in the crash. Q4. Where did the plane crash occur? A4. The crash happened less than two miles from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, in a wooded backyard in Howland Township, Ohio.


Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Wealthy steel tycoon and his family killed in horror plane crash
An Ohio steel tycoon and his family were tragically killed in a small plane crash over the weekend. James 'Jim' Weller, 67, the owner of Liberty Steel Industries Inc; his wife Veronica Weller, 68; their son, John Weller, 36; and daughter-in-law Maria Weller, 34, were heading on vacation to Bozeman, Montana when the twin-engine Cessna they were traveling on suddenly went down, WFMJ reports. The family took off from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport at 6.53am on Sunday, and crashed less than seven minutes later, landing in the backyard of a home just two miles west of the airport. In addition to the Wellers, the crash took the lives of Pilot Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot Timothy Blake, 55. First responders initially faced difficulty reaching the crash site due to the dense woods, but were eventually able to recover the bodies of all six people onboard. 'This is an extremely tragic situation, but it could have been worse,' Howland Fire Chief Ray Pace said at a news conference on Sunday, noting that the plane crashed in a residential neighborhood. The sound of the collision woke resident Rachel Flowers, she told Cleveland 19. 'I thought there was a storm and then two more pops of thunder-like sound,' Flowers recounted. When she and other neighbors then went to check on what happened, they were met with the sound of sirens, flashing lights and billowing smoke. Joe Nuskievicz also told WKBN how he, 'noticed the sound of an airplane in the distance, that the engine didn't sound right. 'It sounded very underpowered - just like it didn't sound like it had enough power to be able to really go, and I noticed that I didn't see it. It was below the tree lines,' he said. Moments later, Nuskievicz said he 'heard a loud crash, a horrible crash'. 'I could hear trees cracking, you know, heavy impact and I knew that it crashed but I couldn't see it.' At that point, he said he told his wife they needed to go see if they could find any survivors and called 911. When Nuskievicz then reached the crash site, he said he yelled to see if any survivors would respond as first responders arrived on the scene. 'It was scary,' he admitted. 'First, my heart just hurt, you know, knowing that there probably was not going to be any survivors and you know, when you live around an airport, you always have a concern. 'We have planes coming in daily and some of them are barely clearing the treetops here,' Nuskievicz noted. Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions then descended on the scene and were able to quickly put out a growing blaze cause by the crash. They were then able to transport the bodies to the Trumbull County Coroner for identification. Once the victims' identities were released on Monday, community members came together to share their condolences. 'The Weller family's contributions in the steel industry are part of the region's proud industrial history and helped shape the economic fabric of the Valley for generations,' the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. 'Their loss is immeasurable, both personally and professionally, and their absence will be profoundly felt across the Valley.' The Weller family has been associated with the steel industry for 60 years, according to The Business Journal. Jim Weller Sr., who died in January at the age of 94, cofounded Liberty Steel Products in 1965 with his father, Andrew, and brother, Jack, in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. The company eventually moved to North Jackson, Ohio, where it processes and distributes carbon flat-rolled steel. By 2015, the family formed Liberty Steel Industries Inc, which operates steel processing, welding, fabrication and stamping plants in Warren, Ohio and Saltillo, Mexico. They also operate a distribution center in Lordstown, Ohio. Outside of the steel business, the Wellers were known for their love of racing. Jim Weller Sr. once co-owned the Sharon Speedway and the Wellers' other son, Jimmy, is a professional race car driver. He was not on the plane with his parents, brother and sister-in-law. 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jim Weller, Jr., his wife Veronica, along with their son John and his wife Maria on Sunday,' the Speedway wrote on X. 'Jim won 36 times in the Big-Block Modified division at Sharon Speedway and was a two-time track champion. His late father Jim Weller, Sr. co-owned Sharon Speedway from 2002-2024. Please keep the Weller Family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this difficult time.' The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources for people and families that are dealing with Alzheimer's disease or concussion diagnosis, also shared its condolences. 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friends, James, Veronica, John and Maria Weller. Their kindness and warmth will be greatly missed,' it wrote on Facebook. Community members also came together to remember pilot Joseph Maxin, who previously worked as an assistant prosecutor for the Mahoning County Prosecutors Office and was serving as the Western Reserve Port Authority's director of compliance at his death. The Port Authority owns the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, from where the Cessna took off. 'These were the best of the best in terms of the folks here at the field as well as the pilots, and can't say enough about them and give anything to rewind the day and take them to breakfast instead,' aviation expert Mike Hillman said. The Western Reserve Port Authority also released a statement calling Maxin, 'a selfless public servant and pilot' who 'dedicated his life to serving the Mahoning Valley. 'From his work in the Mahoning County Prosecutors Office to the instrumental role of launching the flight school in collaboration with Youngstown State University, he was committed to educating the next generation of aviation professionals.' The Mahoning County Prosecutors Office added that Maxin was, 'not only a skilled attorney, but also a beloved friend and colleague known for his kindness, good nature and one-of-a-kind humorous personality.' Youngstown State University offered its own condolences, saying it is 'especially grieving alongside the Weller family, whose longstanding legacy and support have meant so much to YSU over the years and we mourn the loss of the two pilots who were scheduled to join YSU's aviation program as instructors.' The cause of the plane crash remains unclear, and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating the incident. They will examine the pilot, the aircraft and the operating equipment in an effort to determine what may have led to the tragic collision.