Scottsdale, AZ – The pilot who tragically lost his life in a private jet crash at Scottsdale Airport on Monday has been identified as 78-year-old Joie Vitosky, according to local authorities.

Vitosky, a highly experienced aviator with six decades of flying experience, was hailed as a hero by his family.

His daughter, Jana Schertzer, credited his skill and composure in the cockpit for saving the lives of the other passengers on board.

“I wholeheartedly believe that the reason those other passengers are alive is because of how he handled it yesterday,” Schertzer stated on Tuesday.

Vitosky’s passion for aviation spanned more than 60 years, beginning with his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he piloted helicopters before transitioning to jets.

Initially, he had intended to become an engineer, but his military service led him to a lifelong career in aviation, including multiple tours during the Vietnam War.

After leaving the Marines, Vitosky pursued a diverse flying career, piloting aircraft for prominent figures such as civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and Maureen Reagan, as well as corporate executives and oil industry leaders.

In addition to private charters, he also conducted critical transport flights, retrieving parts for companies like FedEx and flying transplant patients awaiting life-saving surgeries.

“It wasn’t just about flying wealthy clients,” Schertzer said. “There were so many people who genuinely needed his help—whether it was an emergency transport or a crucial medical flight.”

Vitosky’s love for flying extended to his family, with Schertzer recalling how she and her siblings often accompanied him on flights when seats were available.

“We’ve all grown up going on trips with my dad when we could—when there was space on the plane, and passengers didn’t mind,” she reminisced.

At 78 years old, Vitosky remained an active and capable pilot, defying assumptions about age. Schertzer emphasized that her father was in excellent health, with perfect vision, and came from a family with a history of longevity.

“He was the epitome of health,” she stated. “There was nothing wrong with him—his vision was even better than 20/20.”

The fatal accident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Monday when a Learjet 35A, arriving from Austin, Texas, experienced landing gear failure upon touchdown at Scottsdale Airport, according to airport officials.

The Learjet, which had two pilots (including Vitosky) and two passengers on board, veered off the runway and collided with a parked Gulfstream jet, which had one occupant inside.

Emergency responders reported that:

• Two individuals suffered critical injuries
• One person sustained non-life-threatening injuries

Air Traffic Response & Investigation

In audio recordings from air traffic control, controllers swiftly redirected nearby aircraft to avoid further complications.

One controller can be heard issuing a warning to an incoming aircraft:
“Maintain altitude and go around. We just had an emergency.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation, with federal aviation officials working to determine the cause of the crash.

So far, the only other individual publicly identified from the crash is 43-year-old Rain Hannah Andreani, the girlfriend of Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil.

Neil, who owns the Learjet, was not on board at the time of the crash, according to his legal representative Worrick Robinson IV, who addressed the incident via the band’s official Instagram account.

The runway at Scottsdale Airport was temporarily closed but reopened shortly before 9 p.m. Monday.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the landing gear failure and subsequent collision. The aviation community, friends, and family members of Joie Vitosky are mourning the loss of a seasoned pilot whose expertise in the skies was widely respected.