Decorated Navy pilot Richard Noble, 63, and Coast Guard veteran Martin Rothwell, 54, were both killed Saturday afternoon when their Perkoz SZD-54 Glider crashed soon after taking from the Jacumba Airport in southeast San Diego County.
Bob Noble told 10News his brother Richard was assigned to the USS Midway for several years as a Navy pilot:
"He was a highly decorated naval aviator. He was an A-6 pilot and commander of a squadron. He flew 28 missions in the first Gulf War and recently he's been a corporate pilot, but he loves flying."
CBS8 reports Noble was piloting the glider, with Rothwell as his passenger.
Rothwell's sister, Nancy Irvine, told CBS8 her Coast Guard veteran brother was passionate about flying:
"He knew what he was doing, and I would never hesitate to get into a plane with him."
The National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating what may have caused the fatal crash, according to UT-San Diego.
