The renowned American singer-songwriter Brett James, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, passed away this Thursday in a plane crash. The Macon County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the accident, which occurred west of Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin, has not left any survivors.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported that three people were on board the plane, a Cirrus SR22T single-engine aircraft. According to the flight record, the aircraft, registered under the name 'James', took off from Nashville, Tennessee, and crashed around 3:00 p.m. The 57-year-old singer-songwriter, known for hits like Jesus Take the Wheel and When the Sun Goes Down, has been identified by local media as one of the fatalities.
Following the crash, Macon County police have ensured that the students and staff at the nearby elementary school were safe, as the impact occurred on adjacent property. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation to determine the causes of the accident. According to the NTSB, an investigator will be dispatched to the crash site to gather more information. The North Carolina Highway Patrol is also assisting at the scene.