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William Langewiesche, Pilot and Investigative Journalist, Dies at 70

He continued publishing rigorously researched long-form investigations despite a terminal cancer diagnosis.

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A Cessna aircraft
William Langewiesche, photographed by Mark Schafer in 2008

Overview

  • He passed away on June 15, 2025, after a career spanning more than four decades in aviation and investigative journalism.
  • His on-site reporting ranged from unescorted access to Ground Zero after 9/11 to extended assignments in the Balkans, Baghdad and South Sudan.
  • He authored nine books and received eight consecutive National Magazine Award nominations, winning twice for feature writing.
  • Diagnosed with cancer in early 2022, he maintained a steady output, including a New York Times Magazine investigation into nuclear escalation published in December 2024.
  • Colleagues recall his meticulous fact-checking, immersive field research and irreverent humor that enlivened complex subjects.