TV Anchor And UA Alum Dies In Plane Crash

NEW ORLEANS, LA — A University of Alabama graduate and veteran television anchor died in a plane crash in New Orleans over the weekend. Nancy Parker, was killed while shooting a story Friday afternoon, according to FOX 8, the television station for whom she worked.

Parker worked at the television station for 23 years. According to FOX 8, Parker, 53, was shooting a story in a stunt plane with a pilot who was a member of a Louisiana group that honored the Tuskegee Airmen.

The University of Alabama released a statement on Parker, mourning the loss of one of the school's prominent graduates.

"The College and our Board of Visitors mourns the loss of Nancy and sends our prayers and condolences to her family, friends and colleagues," said Mark Nelson, Dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences in a statement. "Nancy used her time and talent to give back to our community through her service and unwavering support. She was passionate about mentoring rising journalists and teaching them how to tell meaningful stories. She became a close friend to all who worked with her as a member of our board."

Parker was a native of Opelika and graduated from the University of Alabama's School of Communications in 1988. She was honored with the College’s Bert Bank Distinguished Service Award and joined the College’s Board of Visitors in 2017.

The news community in New Orleans were stunned at the news, as WWLTV's report shows in a video posted to YouTube:

Parker anchored the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. news broadcasts for FOX 8 in New Orleans. Parker's first reporting job was at a local radio station when she was a senior in high school, according to bio provided by FOX 8. She briefly worked in Washington D.C. before working at local TV stations in Georgia and Alabama. She moved to New Orleans in 1990, first working in Baton Rouge and joined FOX 8 in 1996.