Ex-Sparta Township, NJ, Fire Chief One of Pilots Killed in Haiti Plane Crash
A former volunteer fire chief in New Jersey was one of two men killed in a Haiti plane crash last week while on a humanitarian mission.
Patrick Decker served as fire chief in the Sparta Township Fire Department in 1996.
He and Kory Elleby, the other pilot, were killed while they were flying for Agape Flights on a charity mission, WTSP reported.
Their Embraer 110 Bandeirante, a Brazilian twin-turboprop, crashed while flying over the mountainous region of Jérémie, Haiti.
Decker was with the fire department for 50 years.
"We will miss Pat especially at our summer parades. Godspeed, Chief," Sparta Township fire officials wrote on the department's Facebook page.
Decker, a veteran United Airlines pilot, was among the first pilots granted clearance to return to flying into Washington following 9/11. After moving to Florida, he became part of the Agape aid missions.
Elleby, who flew with Agape Flights for eight years, found aviation one of his greatest joys, organization officials said.
Agape Flights has provided aid to missionaries in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas for more than 45 years.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
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Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.