An 11-year-old girl who survived a fatal plane crash has spoken out about how her late father wrapped his arms around her moments before they hit the ground.
On November 13, Laney Perdue, 11, was flying with her father on a commuter plane when it crashed on Beaver Island in Michigan. Her father, 43-year-old Mike Perdue, and three others were killed in the tragic incident.
The plane was landing at the airport when it crashed after departing from Charlevoix, Michigan, approximately 32 miles away, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Per People, the flight was only due to last no more than 20 minutes.
Now, Laney has spoken out about the tragic incident and commented on her father's last actions.
Telling People how Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan is her favorite place in the word, she said: "I was so excited."
Prior to the flight, Laney and Mike said goodbye to their family - Laney's mom Christie, her sister Addie, and two-year-old twin brothers Henrik and Bo.
Christie, 39, says it was a moment she will never forget. "[Mike] gave me this huge hug, let go for a minute and then squeezed me super tight again," the mom said. "Mike is known for his bear hugs."
While onboard the 1:30 PM flight, Laney recalled the moment she felt the plane drop, saying: "I felt this feeling in my stomach like the plane just dropped, and my dad had his feet out like he was bracing for something."
She added: "The last thing I remember is my dad giving me the tightest hug ever. I'm alive because of him."
The plane crashed just three miles short of its destination.
As well as Mike, passengers Kate Leese, 35, and Adam Kendall, 37 - a married couple - and 55-year-old pilot William Julian were also killed in the crash.
A nearby helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Great Lakes had been training nearby, and were the first to respond to the crash.
The Coast Guard Great Lakes revealed on Twitter that the helicopter crew performed "chest compressions" on Laney while transporting her to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Her father was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Recalling the moment she saw her daughter at the hospital, mom Christie said: "I grabbed her hand and she squeezed mine."
However, Laney was not aware that her father had died as a result of the crash.
The 11-year-old said: "I was like, 'Hey, Mom, where's Dad?' I was freaking out because I didn't know there had been a crash. It was scary."
Laney was later transferred to a children's hospital in Grand Rapids, where Christie told her daughter the devastating news.
The brave fifth-grader now says she wants to honor her late father. In December, she rose out of her wheelchair in order to walk at his funeral. And in order to keep an old promise to Mike, the family is already planning their next trip to Beaver Island.
Laney said: "I'm so sad, but I know Dad would want us to be okay. He would want us to live."
