Members of gospel group The Nelons killed in plane crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Three members of the gospel group The Nelons were among seven people killed in a plane crash in Wyoming, their management announced.

Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber and son-in-law Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, and pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa all died in the crash during the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska.

Autumn, Jason and Kelly’s youngest daughter, and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the plane and arrived safely in Seattle.

They were taken to the hotel, where artists gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief, promising to support them in any way needed, according to a press release.

Autumn and Jamie will now reportedly return to Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon, and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the difficult tasks ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family, and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers, the release continued.

Autumn Nelon Streetman released her own statement, which reads:

As many of you have heard by now, my mom and dad, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Nathan, and our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry and Melissa Haynie were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday. Thank you for the prayers that have already been said for me, my husband, Jamie, and our upcoming baby boy, and for Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the days ahead.

Autumn Nelon Straatman

The plane crashed around 1 p.m. north of the city of Gillette, near the Wyoming state border.

According to the Associated Press news agency, the plane sent out a distress signal before the crash and witnesses later reported seeing columns of smoke rising into the sky near the suspected crash site.

The crash sparked a wildfire that was extinguished with the help of aircraft, heavy equipment and engineers. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate.