Apollo 8 icon Bill Anders tragically dies in plane crash (VIDEO)

William Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut known for capturing one of the most iconic images of the Earth and the Moon, died tragically Friday in a plane crash in Washington state. The vintage Air Force T-34 Mentor, flown solely by Anders, crashed before noon near Jones Island.

In 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission, Anders ventured to the Moon's doorstep, allowing us to see our own planet in a new light. It represented the essence and purpose of exploration. “He will be missed,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

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Footage captured moments before the crash showed the 90-year-old pilot performing maneuvers but not coming out of a dive, leading to the crash in the water. The alleged video, posted on X, is hard to watch:

🚨#BREAKING: Former NASA astronaut William Anders who took the famous Earthrise photo during Apollo 8 has died in a plane crash
⁰📌#Seattle | #Washington

Watch terrifying footage from this afternoon as witnesses captured the moment a small T-34 Mentor plane… pic.twitter.com/xF2i8arA0u

— RAWSALERTS (@rawsalerts) June 8, 2024

Alongside Anders on Apollo 8 were astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell, on the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. The crew made ten orbits without landing, during which Anders took the famous “Earthrise” photograph. During the spacecraft's rotation, Anders captured the iconic image of Earth rising over the Moon's horizon. This moment was commemorated by the International Astronomical Union in 2018 with the name of the crater “Anders' Earthrise”.

James Lovell remains the last living member of the Apollo 8 crew. Authorities plan to recover the remains of Anders' plane for investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Weather conditions were not considered a factor in the crash, with winds below 15 mph and clear skies.

Anders, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had accumulated thousands of flight hours and founded the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington, Wash., displaying vintage aircraft similar to the one he flew Friday. The museum posted on Facebook: “Heritage Flight Museum is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our founders, Bill Anders, has died in a plane crash. The museum will remain closed until further notice. Please respect our need to mourn the death of a great father and great pilot”.