Plane crash kills California father days before dream job as private pilot

Just days away from starting his dream job as a private pilot, a 28-year-old man and his best friend were killed in a plane crash that sparked a brush fire in a remote area of Kern County, near the boundary between Southern California and the Central Valley. Ten days before he was set to begin his new job, Ramzi Al-Shurman, a husband and father of three, and his best friend, identified by his fiancée only as Temo, died when their plane crashed in Ridgeline on the morning of May 7. Details surrounding the crash remain limited, and it is still unclear what caused the deadly incident, leaving family members with more questions than answers. High school sweethearts who grew up in Anaheim, Al-Shurman’s wife, Nadeen Zatar, told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell that flying was her husband’s happy place. “He said it was like heaven up there,” she said. “He felt safe up there.” Zatar said Al-Shurman spent years making sacrifices to support his family while pursuing his goal of becoming a professional pilot. “I’m really proud of him, all the hard work he did and made it to the airlines and didn’t even get to start,” Zatar told KTLA. “The weight was finally lifted off his shoulders. He was finally going to be able to fulfill his goal of taking care of us and starting our life with our children.” Now, Zatar and her three children are facing an uncertain future. “He was dedicated,” Al-Shurman’s cousin, Ahmad Alkhdairi, told KTLA. “He dedicated every dollar, every dime of time toward becoming a pilot so he could be the sole provider for his family. He achieved his goals and was 10 days away from his dream job.” As aviation officials continue investigating the cause of the crash, Zatar said she is still struggling to find the right words for her children. “I didn’t know what I was going to tell my daughter. She’s 6,” she said. “His kids miss him so much. My daughter keeps asking to call him. I don’t know what to tell them.” GoFundMe campaigns have been organized for both Al-Shurman and Temo for those who wish to donate.