Bachelorette Joan Vassos says she is 'safe' as fans worry she could have been in the Washington DC plane crash
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Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos shared a note to her fans that she was fine amid an aviation disaster that took place in Washington DC, near where she lives in Maryland.
The flight was coming from Kansas, where her fiancé Chock Chapple resides.
There was a slight chance one of them could have been around the DC airport even though they are actively looking for an apartment in New York City.
'Just wanted to let everyone know that @chockchapple and I are both safe,' Vassos, 62, wrote on her Instagram Stories on Thursday.
'Thank you to everyone who messaged and checked in on us.' She continued, 'We are absolutely heartbroken over the news of the plane crash. Our hearts are with the families and friends of the people on the flight.'
Chapple, 61, also released a statement on the accident.
'My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the tragic plane crash,' he wrote via his Instagram Stories on Thursday. 'I'm praying for our city during this difficult time. Joan and I are safe, and we're sending out love and support.'
More than 60 people were dead after an American Airlines regional passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday and crashed into the frigid Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport.
Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos shared a note that she was fine amid an aviation disaster that took place in Washington DC, near where she lives in Maryland. The flight was coming from Kansas, where her fiance Chock Chapple resides; seen January 18 in NYC
Emergency response units search the wreckage of an American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after it crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the midair collision should not have happened, and vowed reforms to 'make sure that these mistakes do not happen again and again.'
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The black boxes have not been recovered yet, a spokesperson at U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. Those will provide key data on the last moments of the flight.
The Blackhawk helicopter also have data recorders and it is unclear if the NTSB or the Pentagon will read them, once recovered.
Vassos and Brock were last seen in NYC.
According to Vassos' social media, the trip to New York City was part of a celebration for her 62nd birthday.
'Had an amazing time celebrating my birthday in NYC!' he wrote Wednesday.
'Saw our first Broadway show as a couple,' he explained, and implying the big night out was bonus during a work trip in which he 'spoke at a retirement home, went to my first @54below show, met with @lorealparis at their corporate offices, and got customized jeans from @aliceandolivia!'
'So grateful for all these beautiful new memories made with my fiancé and thank you to all our NYC friends for being the best!'
DailyMail.com has learned that Voss's engagement ring cost a pretty penny, and has a price tag of around $80,000.
US President Donald Trump holds a press conference called in response to the fatal collision of a passenger airplane and a US military helicopter, at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, January 30
According to The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles, the center stone is large enough to warrant that high price.
'There is a large emerald-cut center stone with two generous tapered diamond baguettes on each side,' said a spokesperson.
'That adds up to a lot of carats and a high price,' it was added.
Vassos flashed the ring after Chapple got down on one knee and popped the question on the beach in Bora Bora. She said yes then they both said 'I love you' several times.
They are set to celebrate their relationship with a big engagement party in Los Angeles before heading to the East Coast.
'It's gonna be bigger than most weddings,' Chock told Us Weekly of the party in the couple's first interview on Thursday.
Vassos flashed a huge diamond engagement ring from Chock Chapple on the finale of ABC Golden Bachelorette
According to The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles, the center stone is large enough to warrant that high price
'We've got friends coming in from around the country, and it's kind of our coming-out party as a couple. We're extremely excited about that.'
The trip to the Big Apple could involve apartment hunting in New York City, the site added, explaining they want to be close to their children on the East Coast.
Vassos, who is from Maryland , had narrowed the 24 contestants down to two - Chock and Guy Gansert, 66, heading into the finale.
She had promised herself that she would never say 'I love you' until the end of her journey, which happened on the finale.
She was slated to have final dates with both Chock and Guy, both of whom would meet her son and daughter, along with their significant others.
That didn't happen, though, with Joan making up her mind after the first date... leaving the other finalist heartbroken.
She ultimately chose Chock after his final date with her, telling Guy the next day that her, 'heart belonged to someone else.'
He told her, 'I made the decision that when I spoke with your kids, I was going to tell them that I had fallen in love with you and then I was going to get down on a knee and I was going to ask you to marry me.'
'I really thought this was gonna happen,' Guy said in confession, as Joan told him, 'You'll always be a part of my life.'
'Of course I'll marry you,' Joan said.
Joan then picked up the final rose and asked if he would accept it.
After the finale aired, the couple sat down with Jesse Palmer
'Absolutely with all my love,' Chock said.
Joan then called her mother and showed her Chock and said he was her fiancé.
'I'm the luckiest guy in the world,' Chock said.
Chock and Joan then rode off on a boat kissing each other.
The happy couple was then introduced to the live audience, with Joan showing Jesse Palmer the engagement ring.
He also had a surprise for the couple, announcing that he was sending Joan, Chock and their entire families to Disney World in Florida.
They also showed a sneak peek at the next installment of The Bachelor, with Grant Ellis in the audience, who said Joan and Chock were, 'an inspiration.
