A Duke University professor, Joseph Izatt, suffered a fatal medical emergency while flying a Cirrus SR-20 small plane in North Carolina. An unnamed passenger, the only other person on board, took over the controls and safely landed the aircraft at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Onlooker Eevan Caulfield, a member of the Fuquay Fire Buffs, captured paramedics loading Izatt onto a stretcher into an ambulance on the runway. Izatt, a prominent figure in the field of biomedical engineering at Duke University, had been at the school since 2001 and was known for his pioneering work in medical imaging.
Izatt was the Michael J. Fitzpatrick Professor of Engineering at Duke University and chair of the university’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. He had published over 200 papers and held more than 75 US patents throughout his career. Izatt’s sudden passing was announced by Duke University, which ordered campus flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor. Dean Jerome Lynch remembered Izatt as an exceptional leader who made decisions with care and love for the BME community. Izatt is survived by his wife and three children.
The incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon when Izatt suffered an unexplained health complication while flying the small plane. The passenger took control and safely landed the aircraft at the airport around 4:50 p.m. It was reported that Izatt had slumped over the controls before the passenger took over. The single-engine plane had taken off from Raleigh-Durham airport at 3:30 p.m. Izatt’s sudden medical emergency and subsequent passing shocked those who knew him and worked with him at Duke University.
Eevan Caulfield, who was at the airport dropping his daughter off, witnessed the incident and captured it on video. Caulfield, part of the Fuquay Fire Buffs, was listening to his radio scanner when he heard about the emergency on the plane. The individual in the passenger seat had to take over the controls after Izatt’s medical emergency. Paramedics were seen loading Izatt onto a stretcher and into an ambulance on the runway. It was not immediately clear whether Izatt was pronounced dead on the tarmac or later at the hospital.
Izatt’s death left a void in the Duke University community, where he had served as a dedicated teacher and researcher for nearly two decades. As a pioneer in the field of medical imaging, Izatt had made significant contributions to his field. The university paid tribute to Izatt’s legacy and contribution to the campus, highlighting his exceptional leadership and care for his colleagues and students. Izatt’s sudden passing was a tragic loss for his family, friends, and the Duke University community as a whole. His work and his impact in the field of biomedical engineering will be remembered for years to come.
Overall, the sudden passing of Joseph Izatt while piloting a small plane in North Carolina shocked those who knew him and mourned his loss. Izatt’s significant contributions to the field of biomedical engineering and his dedication to his students and colleagues at Duke University were remembered in tributes following his sudden death. The compassionate and thoughtful leader was loved and respected by many, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of researchers and engineers.
