Siblings talk about the inspiring life of a North Texas airman killed in Wichita Falls – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

We learn more about the life of a North Texas airman killed in Wichita Falls this week.

Captain John Robertson died when his ejection seat activated while his plane was on the ground at Sheppard Air Force Base.

The cadets he mentored say Captain Robertson was an inspiration.

“He taught me how to fly. He was our instructor, but he not only taught us, he taught us how to lead,” Kelly Calderon, 17, said.

Calderon and her brother Jared, 19, were taught by Captain Robertson when they joined the Civil Air Patrol in high school.

“He was the only person outside of my immediate family who attended my graduation ceremony. He cared deeply for the cadets,” Jared Calderon said.

According to the Air Force, Capt. Robertson was seriously injured in a T-6A Texan II aircraft when an ejection seat was activated during ground operations on Monday.

He died on Tuesday.

“He was so young. He had everything going for him and seemed invincible. It was definitely a shock,” Kelly Calderon said.

Training at Sheppard AFB, which was paused after the incident, was expected to resume Friday, according to the Air Force, and a full Air Force safety investigation board is expected to be established.

“I miss him. I miss him deeply,” Jared Calderon said.

Memorial services have not been announced, but the Calderon siblings say they want to pay respect to the man who motivated them both to fly for the Air Force.

Kelly reports to Tuskegee University later this month to officially begin her flight training. Jared chose to attend Air Force ROTC at St. Louis University rather than multiple service academies.

“His memory will live with us forever,” Jared Calderon said.

It’s the message they hope reaches Robertson’s family, who the Air Force says were at the captain’s side when he died.

“We are praying for you, he inspired us and we will definitely miss him,” Kelly Calderon said.

It is unclear how or why the ejection seat was activated.

In a statement to NBC 5, seat manufacturer Martin-Baker said, “They are unable to comment on any aspect of the accident.”

They added: “To date, there have been 33 successful ejections from T-6 aircraft worldwide, and of those 33 successful ejections, 14 have occurred on USAF aircraft.”