Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed his plane into the Atlantic Ocean on July 16, 1999. He died alongside his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and her sister, Lauren Bessette. FX's 2026 series Love Story brought renewed attention to the crash, as the season 1 finale features a dramatization of John, Carolyn and Lauren's final moments. So, how did John's plane crash? What caused the tragedy? We explained the truth behind JFK Jr., Carolyn and Lauren's ill-fated flight off of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, here. How Did JFK Jr.