Two Pilots Presumed Dead in Separate Crashes

Tsotne Javahishvili, a renowned biologist originally from Georgia and notable for his work in antibody drug conjugates, is presumed dead after his Cessna aircraft, owned by Scripps Research CEO Peter Schultz, became unresponsive and flew hundreds of miles over the Pacific Ocean off San Diego before vanishing. He was the only person aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation, and Scripps Research plans to honor his legacy with a postdoctoral fellowship. Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Javahishvili’s scientific achievements and piloting skills. In a separate incident, 74-year-old Australian pilot David Stephens is also presumed dead after his plane crashed in the Snowy Mountains amid adverse weather, with rescue efforts hindered by the terrain. Both cases remain under investigation.