Sole plane crash survivor undergoes surgery

CHANUTE, Kan. (WHDH) -- A 22-year-old woman, the sole survivor of a fiery plane crash in Kansas, was awake Wednesday and talking to her parents and doctors.

So far, Hannah Luce has provided few details about the plane crash. The 22-year-old was one of five people onboard a small twin-engine Cessna that went down in a Kansas field and burst into flames on Friday.

Three of those onboard died on impact. Hannah and 27-year-old Austin Anderson survived the initial crash.

They managed to get to a nearby road and flag down help.

Anderson, a former marine, had served two tours in Iraq and had just graduated from Oral Roberts University.

Hannah's father believes Anderson helped Hannah escape that burning plane. Anderson -- who suffered burns over 90 percent of his body -- died on Saturday.

"He is the kind of guy that would give his life for his nation, give his life for a friend -- doesn't surprise me one bit that he would do something like that," Hannah’s father said.

The other victims were Stephan Luth and the pilot Luke Sheets. Both victims had just graduated. Garrett Coble, an instructor at Oral Roberts, also died in the crash.

The plane took off from an airport in Tulsa on Friday, headed for a Christian youth rally in Iowa organized by Teen Mania Ministries -- which Hannah’s father founded.

“I do not know exactly when I’ll see Hannah, but you know I’m definitely looking forward to that day because I’m so thankful that she’s still here,” Hannah’s friend, Kayce Williamson, said.

Hannah was set to undergo skin graft surgery on Wednesday.

She already had surgery on Monday and she'll have another procedure next week.

The good news is she may be able to return to her family and continue her recovery at home.