Glen de Vries, the 49-year-old co-founder of Medidata Solutions and vice chair at Dassault Systèmes who made headlines when he flew to area with actor William Shatner final month, died in a airplane crash in New Jersey on Thursday.

De Vries demise was confirmed by New Jersey State Police troopers, who discovered a single-engine Cessna 172 airplane in a closely wooded space close to Lake Kemah. He was touring with Thomas Fischer, the 54-year-old proprietor of the Fischer Aviation flight school and a second-generation flight teacher. The airplane was touring from Essex County Airport in Caldwell to Sussex Airport, the New Jersey Herald reported.

De Vries was among the many 4 passengers who traveled to area on the second crewed suborbital flight of the New Shepard, Blue Origin’s reusable launch automobile. De Vries purchased his ticket for the flight on Jeff Bezos-led firm for an undisclosed quantity.

In a news announcement in September about De Vries’ upcoming flight, Blue Origin famous that the tech entrepreneur was “an instrument rated private pilot,” a rating earned via intensive coaching of flying solely utilizing the devices in an plane. De Vries had been a pupil at Fischer Aviation since 2016, in keeping with the school’s website.

Besides De Vries and Shatner, the flight additionally included Chris Boshuizen, a former NASA engineer and co-founder of Planet Labs, and Audrey Powers, Blue Origin’s vp of mission and flight operations and a former NASA flight controller.

“We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of Glen de Vries,” Blue Origin wrote on Twitter on Friday. “He brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crewmates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”

According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s accident and incident database, the airplane was “destroyed” and “crashed under unknown circumstances.” The FAA listed the airplane’s exercise as “instruction.”

Bezos additionally expressed his condolences for De Vries’ demise on Twitter on Friday.

“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. Lauren and I are heartbroken and will remember the precious time we got to spend together,” Bezos wrote. He added: “Our deepest sympathies are with his partner, Leah, and all his loved ones. The world lost you too soon, Glen.”

The FAA said that it and the National Transportation Safety Board will examine the crash, the Wall Street Journal said. A preliminary report on the potential reason behind the crash is anticipated to be launched in a few week.

Before his flight, De Vries stated the chance was a dream come true.

“I’ve spent my entire career working to extend people’s lives. However, with limited materials and energy on Earth, extending our reach into space can help humanity continue to thrive,” he said. “Furthermore, astronauts can experience the ‘overview effect,’ gaining a new perspective on how fragile and precious our planet, those resources, and our civilization are. Playing a part in advancing the space industry and one day making those resources and that understanding available to everyone, is an incredible opportunity.”