If you spent any time watching Discovery Channel back in the mid-2010s, you know the face. A bit of grit, a lot of confidence, and the kind of guy who looked like he’d rather be in a cockpit than a cubicle. We’re talking about Mike Kennedy. Lately, there’s been a weird amount of noise online regarding an airplane repo mike kennedy obituary, leaving fans scrambling to figure out if the "Lone Wolf" of the skies actually passed away.
Honestly, the internet is a messy place for news like this. One minute you're reading about a favorite TV star, and the next, you're spiraling through half-baked rumors and AI-generated death hoaxes.
Is Mike Kennedy Still With Us?
Let’s clear the air immediately. As of early 2026, the man you saw hot-wiring Gulfstreams and diving into shark-infested waters to snag seaplanes is alive.
The confusion usually stems from two things. First, there are several men named Michael Kennedy who have unfortunately passed away recently—including a Michael H. Kennedy Jr. in early 2025. When people see those names on legacy sites, they jump to conclusions. Second, Mike’s close friend and Airplane Repo co-star, Kevin Lacey, did pass away in February 2025 after a battle with cancer. Mike himself was actually the one who shared the news about Kevin, which likely caused some keyword crossover that confused the Google algorithms.
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Mike is a survivor. He’s been held at gunpoint by Colombian soldiers and faced down 800-pound crocodiles. A few internet rumors aren't going to take him down.
Life After the Cameras Stopped Rolling
What has he been up to? Well, Mike was never just a "TV guy." Before the show, he was a professional stuntman, a motorcycle racer, and a zoologist. He graduated from UCF in '83 with a degree in zoology, which explains why he has a literal 14-foot crocodile named Lurch living at his place in Orlando.
Basically, the repo stuff was just one facet of a very high-adrenaline life. These days, he’s pivoted heavily into conservation. He runs Dragon Ranch, a non-profit dedicated to rescuing exotic animals like big cats and crocodilians.
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Protecting the Giants in Africa
Mike hasn't retired; he’s just changed his mission. Instead of repossessing jets for banks, he’s been using his flight skills to help rangers in South Africa. He volunteers in the Kruger Park area, flying surveillance to spot poachers targeting rhinos and elephants.
It’s a different kind of danger. He’s trading "tarmac showdowns" for "low-altitude patrols" over the savannah. He even partnered with tech companies to bring drone surveillance to the fight against poaching. He’s still a pilot at heart, just one with a much more philanthropic flight plan.
The Reality of Airplane Repo
People often ask if the show was "real." Mike has been pretty open about it. While the events were often dramatized for TV—meaning they might re-enact a certain moment to get a better camera angle—the risks were based on his 20+ years of actual repo work.
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He didn't just play a pilot; he’s a certified ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) with type ratings for everything from Learjets to Citation Excels. You can't fake that kind of skill set.
Why the Obits Keep Popping Up
- The "Kevin Lacey" Effect: When a major cast member passes, fans often search for the rest of the crew.
- Common Name: There are thousands of Mike Kennedys.
- The Show's End: Airplane Repo hasn't aired new episodes in years, leading people to wonder where the stars went.
Why Mike Kennedy Still Matters
In a world of scripted influencers, Mike felt authentic. He was the guy who would get a black eye trying to give a crocodile an antibiotic injection. He lived (and lives) a life that most of us only see in movies.
If you're looking for an airplane repo mike kennedy obituary, you're fortunately looking for something that doesn't exist. He’s still out there, probably tinkering with a motorcycle or checking in on a rescued leopard. He once said he wanted to be remembered as someone who "didn't want to miss out on anything." It looks like he’s still sticking to that.
What You Can Do Next
If you want to support Mike’s current work, check out the Dragon Ranch Conservancy. They do real work with endangered species that the state of Florida can't always handle. You can also follow his conservation efforts in Africa, where he's still putting those pilot hours to good use. Don't believe everything you read on a random search result—sometimes the "Lone Wolf" is just busy saving the world in silence.