ONLY ON ABC-7: Family member of deadly plane crash pilot speaks

Elite Medical Transport pilot Freddy Martinez’s aunt-in-law spoke with ABC-7, more than a week after a plane crash claimed his life and three others.

“I think he really enjoyed the fact that he was helping someone get better. He put that part of his personality with his passion, which was flying,” Liza Enriquez said.

The evening of Aug. 27, 29-year-old Elite Medical Transport pilot Martinez was flying a Cessna 421-C from Las Cruces to Phoenix, Ariz. His passengers were a cancer patient and a medical crew. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed. All four people on board died.

Officials identified the other plane crash victims as 35-year-old nurse Monica Chavez, 28-year-old medic Taurean Summers and cancer patient Frederick Green.

“It’s not going to be the same without him. But, with his children we’re gonna make sure that his legacy lives on. His legacy of never having a bad day and wanting to help people,” Enriquez said.

Martinez’s celebration of life will be Saturday in a fitting spot, an airport hangar. His family asked that ABC-7 not show exactly where Francis Aviation is because the company had nothing to do with the crash. However, if some can find the War Eagles Air Museum, they shouldn’t have a hard time finding where the services are on Saturday.

“We know that he died doing what he loved … nothing better than being in the skies,” Enriquez said.

The pilot left behind a wife, nearly 2-year-old daughter and a son still in his wife’s womb. Martinez’s family appreciates all the support they’ve gotten, but are also keeping the families of the other three crash victims in their prayers.

Again, services are at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Francis Aviation. The address is 8100 Airport Road in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The family requests anyone going wear bright colors, because they believe Martinez would have wanted it that way.

DIRECTIONS: From I-10 East or West, exit at Artcraft Road. Turn west onto Artcraft. Follow the road down until Airport Road, just before the Santa Teresa port of entry, and turn right. Once on Airport, travel down for a while, until you arrive at the sign that says War Eagles Air Museum parking, and turn right. Once in front of the museum, turn left and follow signs for Francis Aviation.