TRAVERSE CITY -- The teenage survivor of the plane crash in Charlevoix County Friday continues his recovery at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
The family spokesperson released this statement to the media:
"Austin remains in critical condition but is recovering. We ask that everyone respect our family's privacy during this time of grief. We appreciate the prayers, concerns, and outpouring of sympathy. Expressions of support for Austin and the family may be directed to www.caringbridge.org/visit/AustinHatch."
Austin Hatch, 16, of Fort Wayne, Indiana is surrounded by family and friends. He was also reunited with one other survivor of the crash, his dog.
The Charlevoix Area Humane Society tells 7&4 News the family had two dogs on board the plane when it crashed. One of the dogs died, the other was found about six blocks away from the crash site. The director of the animal shelter said an animal control officer was called out late Saturday night after a labradoodle was found. A microchip traced the dog back to the Hatch family.
A family friend picked up the dog named "Brady" Sunday. 7&4 News is told the dog was brought to Munson Medical Center Monday and reunited with Austin.
Austin's father Dr. Stephen Hatch and his wife Kim were the people killed in the crash. FAA officials say the plane was headed to Boyne Falls when it crashed into a garage near the Charlevoix Airport. The plane had taken off from Smith Field in Fort Wayne, Ind. earlier in the day.
The Federal Aviation Administration is still investigating the cause of the crash. Indiana's NewsCenter, WISE-TV NBC 33 also says this is not the first time a flight tragedy has struck this family. They report in 2003, Dr. Hatch was flying a plane from Michigan back to Fort Wayne and clipped a power pole in Wells County, causing that plane to crash. Hatch and his son Austin survived that crash. Hatch's 38-year-old wife, Julie, 11-year-old daughter Lindsay, 5-year-old son Ian and the family dog were killed in that crash.
Austin Hatch is committed to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to play basketball after high school. The family was celebrating Austin's school choice just a week before the plane crash.
