BREAKING Photo: Crews work to haul to shore the wreckage of an advertising plane that crashed into Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday; the pilot killed in the crash has been identified as 70-year-old Donald Thomasson, who was remembered in a family statement as 'an avid pilot since his early 20s' – @BN9

Melanie aviation journey began at a young age, earning her first pilot certifications while still a teenager, before she ever held a driver’s license! As lead journalist at AIRLIVE.net, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the voice and editorial direction of the website. Her experience spans flight operations, air traffic coordination and emergency incident analysis.