Wealthy steel magnate and family killed after their plane crashed in Ohio moments after takeoff

A wealthy steel magnate and his family were the victims killed in a plane crash in Ohio — after their twin-engine aircraft went down just minutes after taking off for their vacation to Montana.

James “Jim” Weller, 67, owner of Liberty Steel Industries Inc; his wife Veronica, 68; their son John, 36; and daughter-in-law Maria, 34; were traveling to Bozeman, Montana when the Cessna they were traveling in suddenly went down, WMFJ reports.

The pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63 and co-pilot, 55-year-old Timothy Blake, were also killed when the plane crash just seven minutes after taking off from Youngstown Regional Airport on Sunday.

John Weller, left, and parents James and Veronica Weller, center, with son Jimmy Weller, right. Courtesy Weller Family
First responders at the scene of a plane crash in Ohio. WKBN
Jimmy Weller, left, shown here with mother Veronica Weller, center, and father James Weller. Courtesy Weller Family

The aircraft went down around two miles west of the airport in the backyard of a home in a heavily wooded area.

Smoke is seen after a plane crashed in a wooded area in Ohio. WKBN

The crash was described as the deadliest in the area’s history by Howland Township Fire Chief Raymond Pace.

A fire is scene after a plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Ohio. WKBN via Joe Nuskievicz
Pilot Joseph Maxin was killed in the crash. APS UPRT Upset Training

First responders struggled to reach the crash site due to the dense woods, but were eventually able to recover all six bodies.

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