Last Man to See JFK Jr. Alive Recalls 'Deep Concern' Before Deadly 1999 Crash

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Kyle Bailey, a Fox News pilot and aviation analyst, was the last person known to have seen John F. Kennedy Jr. before his fatal plane crash in 1999. Bailey said he had a 'deep concern' watching Kennedy, along with his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette, prepare for their flight on July 16, 1999, due to the 'hazy, hot and humid' weather conditions that night.

Why it matters

This story provides a firsthand account from someone who witnessed Kennedy's final moments before the tragic crash that killed him, his wife, and her sister. It sheds light on the weather conditions that may have contributed to the accident and the concerns of an experienced pilot who opted not to fly that night.

The details

Bailey, who was 25 at the time, was at Essex County Airport in Caldwell, New Jersey, when Kennedy arrived. Bailey said the weather that night was 'hazy, hot and humid,' making visibility difficult for pilots. While Kennedy initially seemed fine, Bailey ultimately cancelled his own trip to Martha's Vineyard due to the deteriorating conditions. Hours later, news broke that Kennedy's Piper Saratoga had gone missing over the Atlantic Ocean. Investigators later concluded the crash was caused by spatial disorientation during a nighttime descent.

• On July 16, 1999, Kyle Bailey was at the Essex County Airport in Caldwell, New Jersey.
• Around 8:38 p.m. that evening, Kennedy finished his pre-flight checks and took off.
• Later that night, Bailey told his family, 'I hope he doesn't kill himself someday in that airplane.'

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