Shanda Fanning has been identified as one of the two pilots killed in Wednesday’s horrific UPS plane crash.

Fanning was from Lynchburg, Tennessee, where she lived with her husband Bret on a farm. The couple have no children. She is remembered as a sweet, loving woman who had been flying since she was a teenager.

“As a small child Shanda had a fascination with flying,” said family friend Buford Jennings. “She grew up determined she was going to fly.”

The UPS Flight 1354 was out of Louisville, Kentucky and had begun making its approach to Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport when it skidded across a highway and crashed in a fiery explosion. The plane cut a long swath through a field and scattered debris and parts as it went. As of today, authorities haven’t released the name of the other pilot. No other crew members were believed to have been on board.

UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols released a statement on the crash, saying, “This incident is very unfortunate, and our thoughts and prayers are with those involved. We place the utmost value on the safety of our employees, our customers and the public. We will immediately engage with the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation, and we will work exhaustively on response efforts.”

Image: CBS42.com