Former Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay dies in plane crash

Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay was killed on Tuesday, when his small plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Halladay was flying an Icon A5, a small single-engine aircraft, before the plane crashed around noon near Holiday, Florida (near Tampa). He was the only person on board the plane.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s department confirmed the incident at a press conference.

Updated Information on the Plane Crash. pic.twitter.com/JbwQJtcznd

— Pasco Sheriff (@PascoSheriff) November 7, 2017

Halladay was just 40 years old.

The eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner recently became a pilot, after retiring from Major League Baseball in 2013. He appeared to love flying, often posting pictures to social media.

I have dreamed about owning a A5 since I retired! Real life is better then my dreams!! Thx Kirk & everyone @ICONAircraft pic.twitter.com/wkk6TtjAY4

— Roy Halladay (@RoyHalladay) October 13, 2017

The Blue Jays have issued a statement expressing their sadness:

“The Toronto Blue Jays organization is overcome by grief with the tragic loss of one of the franchise’s greatest and most respected players, but even better human being. It is impossible to express what he has meant to this franchise, the city and its fans. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”

Halladay was a first round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 1995 and made his big league debut three years later. He played parts of 12 seasons in Toronto before moving on to play with the Philadelphia Phillies where he finished off the last four years of his career.