Former Braves righty Johnson killed in crash

Update, Aug. 28: According to a family member who contacted MiLB.com, the original speculation about the cause of the crash -- that the smaller plane pulled up abruptly -- is no longer being considered by investigators.

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Former Braves Minor Leaguer Joe Johnson and his father were identified as the victims killed in a mid-air crash on Tuesday when their small plane collided with an Air Force F-16 fighter jet near Charleston, South Carolina.

Johnson, 30, and his father, Michael Johnson, 68, were killed in the mid-air crash on July 7, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Michael Johnson's body was recovered from the Cooper River on Wednesday, but officials are still searching for the body of Joe Johnson.

Johnson spent two seasons in the Minors after the Atlanta Braves drafted the 6-foot-4 right-hander out of Louisburg College in the 13th round of the 2006 Draft. He went 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24 games over 18 relief appearances between Rookie-level Danville and the Gulf Coast League Braves in 2006 before finishing 1-1 with a 4.87 ERA in 17 outings out of the bullpen for Class A Rome in 2007.

Johnson reportedly worked part-time for Delta and had hoped to become a pilot. He was also employed as a real estate appraiser following his Minor League career.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the crew of the civilian aircraft involved in the accident," U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen Jost said in a news conference.

Johnson was believed to have been flying a two-seater Cessna 150 on a day trip from Berkeley County Airport to Myrtle Beach before colliding with an F-16 from Joint Base Charleston -- investigators believe the small aircraft may have pulled up suddenly and collided with the much faster-moving jet above about four minutes into its flight.

The pilot of the fighter jet, Air Force Maj. Aaron Johnson, managed to eject from his aircraft and is being evaluated by the military base's medical clinic. His F-16 ended up crashing several miles away, leaving a debris field of seven miles. ABC News said the Aaron Johnson was an experienced fighter jet pilot and was flying a military flight plan, although it's unclear whether he saw the smaller plane on his radar.

Investigators said they had recovered Joe Johnson's wallet and that divers continue to search the body of water near the crash site.

The incident, according to the FAA and NTSB, occurred at 11:06 a.m. on Tuesday, about 11 miles north of Charleston, where Johnson pitched on May 19, 2007 for the Rome Braves.

According to ABC News, Johnson was a candidate for Cosmopolitan's "Bachelor of the Year" in 2012 before turning his focus to flying. The report said he was hopeful to become a full-time pilot for Delta. According to ABC News, Johnson "was very meticulous about maintaining his plane and never had any mechanical issues with it."