Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier

Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ fʁɑ̃swa pilɑtʁ də ʁozje]) (30 March 1754 – 15 June 1785) was a French chemistry and physics teacher, and one of the first pioneers of aviation. He made the first crewed free balloon flight, and first confirmed human flight of any kind, with François Laurent d'Arlandes on 21 November 1783, in a Montgolfier balloon. He later died when his balloon crashed near Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais during an attempt to fly across the English Channel. He and his companion Pierre Romain thus became the first known fatalities in an air crash.