Shortly before noon (PST) on Feb. 28, 2018, John McVay, president of Walla Walla University (WWU), sent an email to inform students, faculty and staff, and friends and family of the university that an aviation student and WWU flight instructor were safe after the plane they were in crash landed.

McVay wrote that the accident occurred around 8:50 a.m. with a Piper Arrow airplane from the Walla Walla University aviation program.

The plane went down in the Blue Mountains north of Tollgate, Oregon, a short flying distance from the university, which is located in Washington State. The university has not officially released the names of the individuals involved in the incident.

McVay shared that the aviation student and WWU flight instructor were on the plane and "walked away from the accident." Rescue personnel were notified. "The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident," wrote McVay.

McVay concluded his email with these words: "Thank you for your prayers of gratitude for the good health of our aviators."