yahoo

Wednesday January 24, 9:54 pm Eastern Time

Atlas Air CEO Dies in Plane Crash

By TIFFANY MEREDITH Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) -- A small plane crashed after takeoff Wednesday, killing the head of an air cargo company and The Wall Street Journal's aerospace editor.

The founder and chief executive of cargo hauler Atlas Air Inc. was killed Wednesday in a small plane crash, company officials said.

Michael A. Chowdry, 45, was piloting the private plane when it crashed and caught fire in a small field shortly after takeoff from the Front Range Airport in Adams County, authorities said.

Jeff Cole, 45, the Journal's aerospace editor, was riding with Chowdry. Cole was in Denver to interview Chowdry, according to the Journal.

The plane, an L-39 Czech jet trainer, had been scheduled for a 30-minute flight, Atlas said in a statement.

The company, based in Purchase, N.Y., hauls cargo for about a dozen major airlines.

The plane departed the airport shortly before noon and crashed within minutes north of Interstate 70, about six miles southeast of Denver International Airport, said Dennis Heap, Front Range aviation director.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

``Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Michael and the other victim,'' said Richard Shuyler, Atlas Air executive vice president. ``This is a great loss to us all.''

Shuyler will assume chief executive responsibilities for the company until further notice.

Founded in 1992 by Chowdry, Atlas Air provides Boeing 747 aircraft to the airlines on a three- to five-year contract basis to haul cargo. The company also supplies crews, maintenance and insurance.

Cole joined the Journal as a reporter in Los Angeles in 1992, writing about the aerospace and defense industries. He went to The Seattle Times in 1998 and returned to Journal the following year to assume the role of aerospace editor.

Trading of Atlas Air stock was suspended on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday afternoon. Shares were halted at $36.25, up 6.3 cents.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), January 25, 2001