LI Mourns Realtor, Toddler After Crash: 'Devastated By Profound Loss'

LONG ISLAND, NY — The East Hampton community is mourning a well-loved mother and her 2-year-old child:. According to multiple reports, Adina Azarian, 49, and her daughter Aria, 2, as well as their live-in nanny and their pilot died aboard a private Cessna that crashed in Virginia Sunday.

The plane sparked a response from fighter jets as it passed through restricted Washington D.C. airspace — causing a sonic boom heard by scores. Azarian and her daughter were headed to their home in East Hampton.

On Monday, Kelly Kreth, publicist for Keller Williams NYC, issued a statement about their colleague and friend.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm the tragic loss of our beloved agent Adina Azarian, and her daughter, Aria," the statement said. "Adina was an iconic real estate agent in New York City and Long Island. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of Adina during this incredibly difficult time."

Kreth also asked for privacy and respect for the family's wishes as they grieved the loss of their loved ones.

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have expressed their condolences and offered support during this time of mourning," she said.

A message to Keller Williams Associates said that all were "devastated by this profound loss."

Azarian, that message said, "was an exceptional member of our Keller Williams Points North team, as well as the original Team Leader of Keller Williams NYC, known for her dedication, professionalism, and warm spirit. Her vibrant personality and unwavering commitment to her clients set her apart in the real estate industry. Adina's passion for her work and her genuine care for others touched the lives of many, making her an invaluable asset to our team at Keller Williams Points North. She will be sorely missed."

The KW leadership team added: "May the memories of Adina and Aria bring comfort to their family and friends, and may their spirits live on in our hearts forever."

Friends also mourned their unthinkable loss on social media. Lakhinder Jit Singh Vohra wrote: "I just lost my best friend in the Hamptons."

Azarian, he said, helped him launch his company, Hamptons Cigar Manufactory and was a friend for years. "I can't believe she is gone. She will be so dearly missed."

Speaking with Patch, Vohra said in the nine years the two had known one another, their friendship was colored by fun, fantastic adventures, and so much laughter. He'd "camp out" at her Hamptons home when he was visiting from New York City, where he lived when he met her, to attend an event for his company Party Digest.

"She was the most amazing woman I ever met," he said.

The pair met at the "Taste of Two Forks" event and the fledgling friendship was forged over a Bridgehampton breakfast the next day.

Azarian, he said, was infinitely generous and kind; they shared hilarious outings and quiet picnics.

Although he now lives in Florida, the pair kept in touch; he just reached out to her last week about a party he thought she should attend.

Her baby was his friend's most precious dream. "She wanted a baby so much," he said.

Although he hadn't seen Azarian since her daughter was born — "I was her party friend," he said — he'd long imagine the photo they'd take when he met the child for the first time. "I wanted a photo of her, and me, holding the baby," he said. "I guess that will never happen."

While she was a highly accomplished professional and a fixture on the Hamptons scene, what connected the two was a bond far deeper. "She was very welcoming," he said. "She really understood me. She knew so much about me; she was so observant and saw things I don't really don't think everyone else caught on to."

His voice laced with sorrow, he added: "I was so glad she was in my life."

Azarian, he said, set the bar high. "She made me feel like I was really special," he said. "She was a great friend."

Even when the pair argued, Vohra said Azarian would soon text him and say: "Hey, man, let's bury the hatchet. At our age, it's very hard to make new friends."

Kate Mueth of East Hampton wrote, that although they were Facebook friends, it was clear to see what filled Azarian's heart. "Through that interaction with her, I saw what an incredibly committed and devoted mother she was to Aria. I really admired her joy and her commitment to being that beautiful baby’s mother. That really shone through in her posts. It’s just a devastating, harrowing event of a tragedy."

The Washington Post reported that the plane that crashed was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne, a Florida-based company. John Rumpel said his “entire family” was on board, including his daughter, his granddaughter, 2, her nanny, and the pilot, The Washington Post reported.

There were no survivors, an AP report said, according to 9WAFB. That report also stated that Rumpel told The New York Times his daughter and grandchild were returning to their home in East Hampton after visiting his North Carolina home.

The New York Post reported that the plane "had reached the New York area before making a nearly 180-degree turn and flying towards Virginia, according to the flight-tracking website Flight Aware."

According to the Daily Mail, Barbara Rumpel, John's wife, posted on Facebook about the tragic loss. "'My family is gone, my daughter and granddaughter,' Rumpel wrote in a Facebook comment," the Daily Mail reported.

According to a statement released on Twitter by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, "in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft responded to an unresponsive Cessna 560 Citation V aircraft over Washington, DC, and northern Virginia on June 4, 2023. The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds and a sonic boom may have been heard by residents of the region."

The NORAD statement also said that flares, which may have been visible to the public, were used to get the attention of the pilot. "Flares are used with the highest regard for safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground," the statement said, adding that the flares burn out quickly and there is no danger to those on the ground.

According to NORAD, the civilian aircraft was intercepted at about 3:20 p.m.; the pilot was unresponsive and the Cessna "subsequently crashed near the George Washington National Airport," in Virginia, NORAD said. NORAD tried to establish contact with the plane until it crashed, the statement said.

NORAD, in a message to Patch, also said that six F-16s in total were deployed. Two from the 113th fighter wing, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, two from the 177th fighter wing, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey, and two from the 169th fighter wing, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina. All six aircraft were deployed simultaneously; the aircraft from the 113th Fighter Wing arrived to the Cessna first and started intercept protocols, NORAD said.

The FAA, on Twitter, wrote that a Cessna Citation crashed into mountainous terrain near Montebello, VA around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. "The aircraft took off from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, TN and was bound for @LIMacArthur" airport, the FAA said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, the FAA said.

The New York Post and other outlets said that the plane was not shot down by a military jet.