Family reveals tragic irony of Arizona man killed in freak accident when small jet crashed into his car

An Arizona family has been left devastated after a father-of-two and grandfather-of-one was killed in a freak accident when a small jet crashed into his car.

Ray Longhi, 67, was heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to pick up his wife of 35 years from work on Tuesday when a small Honda jet collided with his red Lexus on Greenfield Road - just a few miles from his home, AZ Family reports. 

The irony, his daughter said, is that her father was an avid traveler who loved aviation. He had even taken a job at Boeing and moved his family to a house adjacent to Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, according to ABC 15.

Ive driven up the street hundreds of times, and so many of those were with my dad, his daughter, Lorraine, told the station. 

The airplanes or helicopters would be flying over as we were driving down the road and my dad would just know everything about what model of airplane it was.

Ray Longhi, 67, was killed in a freak accident on Tuesday when a small jet crashed into his car

He was was heading to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to pick up his wife of 35 years from work on Tuesday when a small Honda jet collided with his red Lexus on Greenfield Road - just a few miles from his home

She said she is now struggling to understand what happened.

When I heard it was an accident, I think I just assumed it was a car accident, but when I found out that there was a plane involved, I think it was just so difficult to wrap my head around, Lorraine said.

I just couldnt wrap my head around the fact that my dad could get into a plane accident next to the same airport hed been living next to for decades.

It was impossible for me to imagine that something like this could happen a mile away from home, she added. 

Witnesses to the crash told police a multimillion-dollar business jet never left the ground at Falcon Field after attempting a takeoff at around 4.45pm Tuesday, Arizona Republic reports. 

After the plane hit Longhis vehicle, it crashed into an orchard where it burst into flames.

Four people onboard the plane were also pronounced dead at the crash - Drew Kimball, 44, Grahm Kimball, 12, Spencer Lindahl, 43, and Rustin Randall, 48. A teenager onboard suffered burn injuries, but survived.

Me and my family want answers about what happened, Lorraine said.

My family is devastated. Were angry. Were confused. This should not have happened.

Lorraine Longhi, his daughter, is now demanding answers about the fatal crash

Witnesses to the crash told police a multimillion-dollar business jet never left the ground at Falcon Field after attempting a takeoff at around 4.45pm

She said her father had plans for the future when he was killed.

My dad did have more life to live, Lorraine said, adding that he wanted to spend more time with her and her brother, along with his wife and one-year-old grandson.

He had things that he still wanted to do, that we still wanted to do with him.

It is so unfair and its so senseless, she said of the crash, but at the same time, I know  my dad wouldnt want us to dwell on it and to just sit in despair.

She described her father in interviews as larger than life, telling how he was adopted as an infant into an Italian-American family from Yonkers, New York and studied English for two years at the University of Arizona before transferring to University of California, Berkeley.

Ray eventually traveled to Taiwan, where he first met Ada Tsai, now 64. The two got married in 1989 and started a family, but kept their adventurous spirit alive.

There were weekends when, growing up, my parents would shake me awake and just say, "Hey do you want to go to this new city today?" You know, just cause we could, Lorraine recounted to the Republic. 

Ray met Ada Tsai while traveling to Taiwan, and the two were married in 1989

Lorraine said her parents kept their adventurous spirit alive, whisking her and her brother on weekend trips to different cities

She said her father was so caring and so full of life, noting that he had texted her just before the crash, asking, Everything OK?

Lorraine said it was something her father would often ask.

Im just realizing that, you know, my dad wasnt just asking if people were OK, she said. It was his way of saying that he loved them, and Im really glad that we had a conversation just moments before it happened.

And I believe that he was, you know, heading down that road knowing that he was doing what he always did, which was taking care of his family, she said, calling her father her hero.

My dad was just more than the way he died, Lorraine insisted to ABC 15. The way he lived was just the most special thing Ive ever been able to witness.

The Longhis are now asking anyone who wants to support their family to donate to the Sunshine Acres Childrens Home in Mesa, and is urging everyone to take a minute to hug their dad or hug their kids.