Three Hilliard Residents Hospitalized After Plane Crash in Georgia

HILLIARD, Fla. — Three members of a Hilliard family are hospitalized after their small plane crashed during landing at Davis Field in Folkston, Georgia, Thursday afternoon. Michael Franklin and his wife Vickie are listed in critical condition at UF Health Jacksonville, according to Dan Leveton, manager of internal and external communications for the hospital. Their son, Brenton Franklin, underwent surgery Friday morning for a broken femur, friends of the family reported to the Nassau County Record. The single-engine aircraft, carrying Michael, Vickie, Brenton, his wife Baylee and their two daughters ages 1 and 3, veered left off the runway just after 4 p.m. while attempting to land, according to Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips. The plane struck a tree, spilling fuel and igniting a small fire, which firefighters from the Georgia Forestry Commission quickly extinguished. All six family members were alert at the scene, but the two men in the front seats suffered the most serious injuries and were airlifted via Trauma One helicopters to UF Health. Baylee Franklin and her young daughters were examined at the hospital and released. Flight data from Flightradar24 shows the family had flown north of Athens, Ga., earlier that day before heading back toward Nassau County. Charlton County firefighters and paramedics responded rapidly, extracting passengers from the wreckage, Phillips told the Nassau County Record. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration initiated investigations Friday into the cause of the crash. This incident follows a pattern of small plane accidents near Hilliard, including a fatal crash north of the city in 2020 and a backyard landing on Eastwood Road in 2022, though no connection has been reported. Nassau County residents are reminded to report any aviation concerns to local authorities or the FAA. As Florida braces for a tropical depression threatening the west coast with evacuation orders in the Panhandle, this crash underscores the importance of aviation safety amid the state's focus on emergency preparedness. Governor Ron DeSantis has activated the National Guard for storm response, highlighting broader public safety efforts relevant to Nassau County families.