Western Nebraska Community College and the Western Community College Area Board have come to a settlement of a claim by the estate of one of two students who died in a tragic aviation program accident last year.
24-year-old Zhaoxin Chen of Xi’an, China died from injuries suffered while working on an airplane engine at the WNCC Aviation Maintenance training facility in Sidney April 1, 2021.
According to Attorney Phil Kelly, Chen’s estate received $700,000 from the college’s insurance company, plus $10,000 paid by WNCC for expenses.
Also killed during the accident was 21-year-old Yemin An of Seoul, South Korea, but details on any settlement related to his death have yet to be disclosed.
Both students were sophomores in the WNCC Aviation Maintenance Technician Program, and following their passing, a memorial fund was established in both of their names.