Night to Thursday, several Swedish media reported that an elderly man died when a small plane crashed outside Leksand in Dalarna County in Sweden. The pilot in his 80s was alone on board the plane, which was reported missing around 20.30.
After an extensive search operation, where so-called night-vision binoculars were used, the plane was located around 11 pm. Aftonbladet writes Thursday morning that the deceased was found lying next to the plane.
Expressen informs later in the day that it was the former hockey player Olle Palm (82) who died in the plane crash in Dalarna on Wednesday.
– He misses very much
The 82-year-old left behind eight children. His son Mikael Palm (58) tells Dagbladet that he last saw his father in August.
– Because of the corona, it has been difficult to see each other, and we have talked mostly on the phone. But in August he came by our house and we talked for a while and took one coffee, he says.
Pilot died in plane crash
Palm remembers especially well that his father that day was very happy that his airline was doing so well.
– He was also very happy for me, because my job is going well too. We agreed that we would try to have a joint barbecue one day when there was relief in the coronary restrictions. But that was not the case, he says.
– I miss him very much.
Difficult conditions
Olle Palm (82) was to fly to Värmland and had contact with a pilot on another plane, who was going to the same place. The police were notified by the other pilot after the communication was broken in Mora.
The comrade sounded the alarm at 20.30 when the plane did not arrive at the airport on time. The friend had been in contact with the pilot via the aircraft radio, but received no answer.
On a radar, Luftredningen could see the missing aircraft’s last registered position, outside Leksand around 7 pm. The area and the weather still made it very difficult to find.
Police hunt for murder alarm
– The plane has flown a stretch and been seen on the radar, and now there is no contact anymore, said operator Joakim Blomberg at SOS Alarm to SVT on Wednesday night.
The weather conditions then created problems, Agne Hörnestig, communicator at the Swedish Maritime Administration, told the Swedish state channel.
– Very proud
The 82-year-old took the pilot’s certificate in the 90s, when he was in his fifties. Since then, he has had his own airline, which deals with, among other things, aerial photography, firefighting and flyer advertising, according to his son.
– He was very alert in the head. His body had begun to rattle, but he was still in good shape and very nimble.
Palm received the tragic message from his sister, who had contacted the police after watching it on the news.
– She informed us all. We had a chat all of us eight siblings, and then she told it, he says.
Palm says he is very proud of his father.
– I am very proud of my dad, and the feeling I am left with that he made him do it. It is also something I feel I have inherited, and maybe something I have from him, he says.
– Dad was good at so much, and had learned a lot differently. This is something I am very proud of.
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