GREENWOOD – Anh-Thu Nguyen, a highly accomplished pilot, Purdue University alumna, and the founder of the Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation (AWAA) organization, was killed in a small plane crash in Greenwood on Wednesday morning. Nguyen, 44, of Miami, was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
The crash occurred around 10:45 a.m. on July 30, behind a Circle K gas station at 1183 E. Main Street. Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined and is under investigation by federal authorities.
According to her social media and the AWAA website, Nguyen was on the second leg of an ambitious mission to fly solo around the world for a second time. Her 2025 journey had begun on Sunday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with the tragic flight from Indiana reportedly en route to Pennsylvania. In a video posted just before her final takeoff, Nguyen stated, “This is more than just a flight… This is a mission to inspire the next generation of Asian female pilots and aerospace engineering professionals.”
Nguyen’s life was a testament to perseverance and breaking barriers. She immigrated to the U.S. from Tuy-Hoa, Vietnam, a village without electricity or running water, at age 12. Despite facing poverty, a lack of support, and discouragement from many flight instructors, she earned a B.S. in mathematics and an M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, graduating valedictorian of her high school and in the top 10 of her college class. She later achieved a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech.
In 2024, Nguyen made history as the 10th woman and first Vietnamese pilot to fly solo around the world, a journey that included 25 stops. Her dedication to inspiring others led her to found AWAA in 2018, a nonprofit dedicated to “encouraging, empowering, and engaging the next generation of Asian female pilots, Aerospace Engineers, and STEM professionals.” In 2020, she also opened the Dragon Flight Training Academy in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where she served as a chief flight instructor.
The AWAA released a heartbroken statement following her passing, recognizing Nguyen as an “inspiring pilot, instructor, and advocate for girls and women in aerospace and aviation. She lived with boldness, curiosity, and drive. She came from humble beginnings to become a beacon of hope to many.”
Those wishing to honor her legacy are invited to donate to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Asian Women in Aerospace & Aviation in her name, which will fund scholarships and continue her dream of helping young girls pursue their aviation and STEM aspirations. Well wishes and thoughts can be left on her social media pages.
