The chief executive of a US-based technology corporation has died after an experimental plane he was piloting crashed at an airport in Idaho.
In air traffic control recordings, Micron Technology's Steve Appleton can be heard asking for permission to turn around after takeoff and return to the airport shortly before his plane crashed on Friday morning local time.
Mr Appleton, an avid pilot, was the only one in the experimental fixed-wing plane when it crashed at the Boise airport, the Associated Press reports.
Witnesses say his plane caught on fire before it crashed between two runways, the Idaho Statesman reports.
A voice believed to be Appleton's can be heard in a Boise air traffic control recording requesting clearance to turn around after takeoff and return to the airport.
"321LC, I'd like to turn back in ... and, uh, land ... coming back in, uh, 32," the voice says.
"November One [unintelligible]," answers the tower.
"Cherokee one, cancel takeoff clearance, hold short, correction, cancel takeoff clearance."
Other planes on the ground are told to wait. And the tower is told to stand by for an emergency.
Micron Technology is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductors. It manufactures and markets a range of memory chips for computers and other electronic devices.
The company released a statement paying tribute to Appleton.
"Our hearts go out to his wife, Dalynn, his children and his family during this tragic time," the statement read.
"Steve's passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large."
Despite the accident Micron shares were up 3.0 percent in afternoon trade, carried by a strong market overall.
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