Woman Who Confirmed Obama’s Birth Certificate Dies in Plane Crash

NBC
December 12, 2013

Hawaii Health Department Director Loretta Fuddy who released President Obama's birth certificate, died in a plane crash on Wednesday.
Hawaii Health Department Director Loretta Fuddy who released President Obama’s birth certificate, died in a plane crash on Wednesday.

The health director who approved the release of President Obama’s birth certificate has died in a plane crash, Hawaiian officials said Thursday.

Loretta Fuddy died after the Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft she was travelling on went down shortly after leaving Kalaupapa Airport at around 3:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET) on Wednesday.

The other eight people on board were rescued, Richard Schuman, president of Makani Kai Air, told NBC News early Thursday, adding that that there was no indication as to why the plane had crashed.

Fuddy hit the headlines two years ago when she approved a waiver request allowing Obama to access certified copies of his birth certificate, signed by the delivery doctor, Obama’s mother and the local registrar.  His mother, then 18, signed her name (Stanley) Ann Dunham Obama.

So-called “birthers” opposed to Obama including real estate mogul Donald Trump had long questioned why Obama hadn’t ensured the long form was released.

Hawaiian Senator Will Espero paid tribute to the 65-year-old on his Facebook page.

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