Megan Hilty Reacts to 'Overwhelming Support' Given to Fundraiser to Recover Family Members' Bodies

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Megan Hiltyis reacting to the “overwhelming support” that’s been shown fora GoFundMe campaign that raised funds to recover the remains of her family memberswho died in a plane crash in Washington last month.

On Sept. 4, afloat plane carrying 10 peoplecrashed in Puget Sound, killing everyone on board. Days later, Meganconfirmedthat her sister Lauren Hilty, brother-in-law Ross Mickel, and their son Remy, were among those dead. Lauren was eight months pregnant with her son, Luca, at the time of the crash.

Megan and her sister, Kristen Hilty Eaton,created a GoFundMe pageon Wednesday to help finance the location efforts of the remains of Lauren, Remy and Luca after they said Ross and other victims were recovered in the days following the crash.

Noting in an Instagram post on Friday morning how it is “difficult todescribe the depth of our gratitudefor the overwhelming support we have received in such a short time” tied to the fundraiser, Megan said, “Because of this generosity, we will be able to start the recovery effort for Lauren, Remy & Luca immediately and hopefully bring some kind of closure to this unbearable tragedy very soon.”

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“This tragic loss put us in an impossible situation and, to be very honest, it was incredibly difficult to ask for help,” Megan wrote.

“But,” she continued, “the immediate outpouring of support has shown us we are not alone in wanting to recover our beloved family members, and that has brought us an immense amount of comfort.”

“Because of the generous support we’ve received, we will be able to cover the search and rescue team’s costs and make a donation to their foundation to help other families look for their loved ones,” Megan added, without naming the specific foundation.

Megan then thanked supporters for showing her and her family love during a difficult time.

“Whether you have contributed financially, brought us meals, sent flowers or cards or healing thoughts and prayers, we will never truly be able to thank you enough for supporting our family when we needed you the most,” she wrote.

RELATED VIDEO: Megan Hilty Breaks Silence on the Death of Her Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew: ‘No Words’

Earlier this month, the Island County Department of Emergency Management said it had recovered and identifiedseven bodiesfrom the crash.

Alsokilled in the crashwere Seattle attorney Gabrielle Hanna, 29; pilot Jason Winters; passenger Joanne Mera; civil rights activist Sandra Williams and her partner, retired teacher Patricia Hicks; and married couple Luke and Rebecca Ludwig.

As of Friday morning, the GoFundMe page has raised over $70,000.

source: people.com