The daughter of Jim Tweto, the beloved star of the Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild Alaska, has paid a heartbreaking Father’s Day tribute to him two days after he died in a plane crash.
Tweto, 68, was killed on Friday alongside Idaho hunting and fishing guide Shane Reynolds, 45, after their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff near the coastal village of Shaktoolik, Alaska.
His daughter Ariel Tweto, 32, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a Father’s Day tribute to Tweto.
‘Happy Fathers Day dad. I know you’re with all of us right now. I can’t write you my usual long sappy message because our house is full of family and friends and youd give me an eye roll if you saw me on my phone so I won’t,’ Ariel wrote alongside several images of Tweto.
‘But I love you. Listen with sound on for the last video.’
Bush pilot Jim Tweto was killed with a hunting and fishing guide from Idaho when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Friday
His daughter Ariel, 32, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a Father’s Day tribute to Tweto
‘Happy Fathers Day dad. I know you’re with all of us right now,’ Ariel wrote alongside several images of Tweto
Ariel shared images of Tweto enjoying the outdoors and a video of him driving an ATV where she can be heard saying: ‘Mr Invincible.’
Many of Tweto’s fans sent their condolences to his family under Ariel’s tribute.
‘I’m heartbroken for your family, I loved watching flying wild Alaska, I actually felt I knew your father , he was an amazing dad and loved you all so much,’ read one comment.
‘Crazy how a man I never knew personally could have such a profound effect on my life as a teacher,’ read another comment. ‘I will continue showing the tenacity and leadership of Jim Tweto to my Aerospace Engineering students for as long as I teach.’
The pilot’s family-run aviation business in Unalakleet was featured in three seasons of the television series more than a decade ago but remained a firm favorite among fans.
Troopers were notified of an SOS activation around 11:48 a.m. Friday, followed by a report that a Cessna 180 had crashed 35 miles northeast of Shaktoolik.
The plane ‘was witnessed taking off but not climbing and then crashing,’ their report said.
Authorities responding from Nome recovered both bodies. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating.
The Anchorage Daily News reported that Tweto was a co-owner of Hageland Aviation Services and then Era Alaska, which would later become Ravn Air Group.
Reynolds operated Northwest Fishing Expeditions, guiding clients in Alaska and across the Pacific Northwest for years.
Born in Kansas and raised in Minnesota, Tweto came to Alaska to play hockey at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and settled in Unalakleet, where he met his wife Ferno.
Tweto, 68, died doing what he loved, his daughter Ariel previously said on Instagram
Ariel shared images of Tweto enjoying the outdoors and a video of him driving an ATV where she can be heard saying: ‘Mr Invincible’
Idaho hunting and fishing guide Shane Reynolds, 45, was also killed on Friday’s plane crash. He is pictured with his wife and daughter
The couple and their three daughters were featured in the Discovery series, which aired in 2011-2012.
Their daughter Ariel had previously said Tweto died doing what he loved.
Ariel shared her final text messages with father Jim, where he said: ‘Faith you just can’t have enough’
She called Reynolds ‘a wonderful hunting guide and friend of our family’ who left behind a wife, Gina, and daughter, Juliet.
Nearly $80,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page for Reynold’s wife Gina and daughter Juliet.
‘Born and raised in Idaho, Shane followed his dreams of becoming a fishing and hunting guide,’ Kelsi Ivanoff, the organizer of the campaign wrote.
‘He has guided for big game and fish in Alaska and across the Pacific Northwest. He operated Northwest Fishing Expeditions, and settled in Orofino, Idaho, where he and his wife have raised their daughter.’
‘Shane left this world doing what he has loved from a young age.’
