Ethiopian Airlines Crash - Haiti Connection

https://www.nj.com/cape-may-county/2019/03/nj-native-who-helped-haitis-earthquake-victims-among-157-killed-in-ethiopian-airlines-crash.html

A writer from South Jersey, who dedicated much of his life to helping earthquake victims in Haiti, was among the 157 people who died in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner on Sunday.

Matthew Vecere, 43, grew up in Cape May County and later moved to California. His employer, IQ Air, announced his death on Twitter Monday afternoon.

“Matt was a great writer and an avid surfer with a passion for helping others. Our hearts are with Matt's family and all who lost their lives in this tragedy,” the company tweeted.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 went down in clear weather shortly after takeoff Sunday, killing everyone on board.

A witness to the crash told The Associated Press that smoke was coming from the back of the plane before it hit the ground.

“Before falling down, the plane rotated two times in the air, and it had some smoke coming from the back then, it hit the ground and exploded,” Tamrat Abera said.

Ethiopian authorities are leading the investigation into the crash, assisted by the U.S., Kenya and others.

Airlines in Ethiopia, China, Indonesia and elsewhere grounded the Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliner Monday after the second devastating crash of one of the planes in five months.

According to a bio he posted online, Vecere grew up in Sea Isle City where he learned to surf. He worked for his parents at various businesses before moving to Florida to escape New Jersey’s “miserable winters.”

Vecere attended the Florida Institute of Technology before transferring to Stockton University in Atlantic County where he studied biology and writing. After college, he worked for a time with the elderly at The Shores United Methodist Home in Ocean City, according to his bio. It was there that he “learned a new appreciation for life, death, and everything in between.”

Vecere moved to California in 2005 to work in the surf industry and nonprofits. Five years later when the earthquake hit Haiti, he went there to see if he could help.

Material from The Associated Press contributed to this report