Barbara Rumpel, a member of a prominent family in Brevard’s social and political circles, confirmed devastating news to her friends and supporters through social media with just four words.
In the aftermath of a devastating plane crash and a puzzling incident involving an unresponsive aircraft and a supersonic military jet response that caused alarm among residents along the Washington, D.C., corridor, Rumpel took to Facebook on Sunday to share the heartbreaking news that his family was no longer with him.
According to a post made by Rumpel, the owner of Encore Motors of Melbourne, it has been confirmed that her daughter and granddaughter, whose pictures were shared on her page, have passed away. As of late Monday morning, it was observed that Rumpel’s Facebook page had become inactive.
According to John Rumpel, the husband, a nanny was also present on the aircraft, as reported by the Washington Post on Sunday. Details regarding the fourth individual on board were not disclosed. According to FLORIDA TODAY, he stated that he had spoken with the FAA, the police, and the NTSB, but declined to provide any additional remarks.
Federal investigators were analyzing the details of a twin-engine plane crash on Monday. The incident caused F-16 fighter jets to be deployed after the plane entered restricted airspace in the nation’s capital.
According to Virginia State Police, all four individuals aboard the Cessna Citation tragically perished in the crash, as reported on Monday. The individuals in question were not immediately identified by authorities. However, family members have confirmed that they are related to John and Barbara Rumpel.
According to the FAA, a Cessna crashed into mountainous terrain in southwest Virginia near Montebello around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. An aircraft departed from Elizabethton Municipal Airport located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, with a destination of Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York. As the plane approached the New York airport, it suddenly changed course and flew over restricted airspace in Washington.
Two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched by NORAD, the agency responsible for monitoring air defense over the U.S., to intercept the unresponsive plane. Within 20 minutes, the jets intercepted the plane, causing sonic booms that were heard by thousands of residents on the ground due to their supersonic speeds. According to NORAD officials, multiple efforts to reach the pilot were unsuccessful. According to reports, flares were deployed during the incident, however, the pilot did not respond.
A plane crashed into the sparsely populated mountains of the George Washington National Park in Virginia. The site was responded to by Fire Rescue crews from nearby communities.
Twenty-nine years after John Rumpel’s daughter died in a scuba-diving accident in 1994, a crash has occurred.
The Rumpels have established themselves within Brevard’s business and political circles. The Rumpels, who are based in Melbourne, have reportedly invested in local real estate and property rental and management firms, in addition to their involvement with Encore Motors. The main business address of Encore Motors is listed as a commercial warehouse owned by the couple.
Board member Barbara Rumpel, who is affiliated with the National Rifle Association, received support from fellow members of the organization after news of the couple’s loss became known.
The owners of Victoria Landing Waterfront Assisted Living and Memory Care, a luxurious assisted living community situated along the Indian River near Eau Gallie, are also the operators of the facility. The facility has been named after John Rumpel’s daughter, who passed away in a scuba diving accident in 1994.
Barbara and John Rumpel, known for their active involvement in national and state politics, have been recognized as donors. They have been supporters of Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ re-election as governor.