Two of the victims involved in a plane crash outside the city of El Cajon this week have been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Douglas James Grande, 45, and Julian Jorge Bugaj, 67, were were killed along with two others Monday, Dec. 27, after a Learjet 35 that had taken off from John Wayne Airport crashed in the residential San Diego County neighborhood.
Grande and Bugaj were both residents of El Cajon and certified pilots, according to records.
The Learjet was registered to El Cajon-based Med Jet LLC, according to Federal Aviation Administration records, and all four of the victims were employed by Aeromedevac, according to the company. Aeromedevac, also based in El Cajon, provides air ambulance and air-transport services for critical care patients.
Aeromedevac aircraft always have two pilots, a captain and first officer, according to their website.
Laurie Gentz and Tina Ward were identified by colleagues or respective organizations as the two other victims involved in the crash, though the coroner’s office has not yet released their names.
Gentz served as the president of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics’ Local 162, according to the association.
“President Gentz will be greatly missed by all who knew her and all who benefit from her selfless contributions to organized labor in the Greater San Diego area,” the association wrote in a Facebook post.
Ward was a flight nurse and the wife of recently retired Oceanside Fire Chief Joe Ward, according to an Instagram post from the Oceanside Firefighters Association 3736.
The Learjet was operated by Med Jet LLC, according to a FAA report filed on Tuesday, Dec. 28.
The National Transportation Safety Board was continuing its investigation into the crash on Wednesday.
In a statement Wednesday, Aeromedevac extended their condolences to the victims’ families.
“To both us and their families they are unsung heroes, dedicating their lives to caring for others in need throughout our community,” the statement said. “Our priority now is to support the well-being of the families of all our crew members.”