Former MLB pitcher Roy Halladay died in 2017 after his plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. Now it has emerged that the all-star was performing acrobatic stunts with the aircraft while under the influence of a concoction of prescription medication when he plunged to his death.
The eight-time All Star and a two-time Cy Young Award winner had dangerous levels of amphetamine, antidepressants, sedatives and morphine, a powerful opioid pain medication, in his system that fateful day, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed in an aviation accident report on Wednesday.
Halladay was flying the plane low over the water and performing steep turns and high-pitch climbs, according to witnesses. One fisherman noted that the plane was flying "really close" to houses in the area.
The 40-year-old Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies star performed a steep climb then descended in a steep nose-dive before crashing into the water. Rescuers found Halladay's plane upside down in shallow water and tangled in mangroves.
Halladay got his pilot's license in 2013, after 700 hours flight time, Fox News reported.
He had purchased a small plane for himself, an ICON A5. His Twitter feed was filled with messages about his flying experiences and photos and videos taken mid-flight.
Halladay's younger sister, Heather, briefly spoke with ESPN about the report that was just released,
"It happened. I can't take it back for him," she said. "I know what type of person my brother was and that's all that really matters to me. I do miss him like crazy and that's what this all brings up."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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