Federal Agent Robert Francis Purcell

Robert Francis Purcell

Federal Agent Robert Purcell and Federal Agent Warren Fleshman were killed in an airplane accident while preparing to land at West Mesa Airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot was making a final approach to the airport when the plane crashed approximately five miles west, and several miles north of the landing strip.

The two agents were returning from the east coast carrying national security assets and were making their final approach when the Beechcraft plane crashed. The pilot was also killed in the accident.

All of the national security assets were accounted for during the recovery operation.

Agent Purcell was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He was survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, mother, and brother.