Freedom Flyers President and Co-Founder Josh Yoder said Sunday a 37-year-old Alaska Airlines pilot was found deceased in his hotel room on September 23rd when he didn’t show up for his scheduled airport transportation.
Im told a 37 year old Alaska Airlines pilot was found deceased in his hotel room on September 23 when he didn’t show up for his scheduled airport transportation. @MakisMD @USFreedomFlyers @annvandersteel @realstewpeters
— Josh Yoder (@JoshYoder) September 24, 2023
It appears the deceased individual is Seattle-based pilot Eric McRae.
The Facebook group “Alaska Airlines Flight Crew to Heaven” posted Sunday about McRae’s passing.
Via Facebook:
It is with extreme sadness that I am sharing the loss of one of our own.
Seattle based Captain Eric McRae tragically passed away yesterday while on a layover. Though completely unexpected and untimely we have no reason to believe foul play was involved.
Eric’s ties to the Alaska Airlines family run deep. Eric was a proud father and shared two beautiful young children with his wife Chael, an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant. His father is retired Alaska Captain Tom McRae.
Out of respect for Eric’s family’s need for peace and time to grieve, we will not be sharing any further details at this time. We will continue to support the family in every way we possibly can.
If / when a service is planned, we will communicate those details based on the family’s wishes.
*Image from Facebook Group Alaska Airlines Flight Crew to Heaven*
According to Eric McRae’s LinkedIn profile, he worked as an Alaska Airlines pilot since 2014.
William Makis continues to track pilot incapacitations and deaths in 2023.
“We will eventually have data to compare recent pilot deaths & incapacitations to previous years,” he said.
BREAKING NEWS: Pilot Death – Alaska Airlines Pilot 37 year old Captain Eric McRae, based in Seattle, died suddenly on Sep.23, 2023 in his hotel room during layover (didn't show for his scheduled airport transportation – was supposed to fly that day)
Recent Pilot Incapacitations… https://t.co/lTn1QAN6we pic.twitter.com/8E7BZ6QxQG
— William Makis MD (@MakisMD) September 25, 2023