MARYLAND (VINnews) – The three Israelis who died Sunday when a small training aircraft crashed near Bowie, Maryland, have been identified as Yoav Bomrind of Zichron Yaakov, David Rabinovitz of Haifa, and Elad Neidik of Toronto.

The single-engine Piper PA-28 was flying from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark near Washington when it crashed in a wooded area near a residential neighborhood and playground. Authorities located the wreckage several hours later, and all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

Bomrind’s father said his son had traveled to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.

“He was a beautiful, smart young man and the best son parents could ask for,” his father told Israeli media. Adopted from Ukraine at the age of one, Bomrind excelled as both a pilot and soccer player, volunteered with the Israel Police, and was known for his love of helping others.

He is survived by his parents and his sister, Inbar, a 21-year-old IDF officer.

Bomrind and Rabinovitz will be buried in Israel, while Neidik will be laid to rest in Toronto.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the Israeli Consulate in Washington is assisting the families and coordinating with local authorities. ZAKA representatives are also helping with arrangements to bring the victims to burial.

The flight was reportedly operated by a Montgomery County-based flight school, which canceled its scheduled flights following the tragedy. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash. Investigators are reviewing radar data, flight records and wreckage recovered from the wooded crash site.