A NASA nuclear propulsion engineer died in a fiery Tesla crash after mysteriously vanishing from his Alabama home, joining at least 11 other scientists in nuclear and aerospace research who have died or disappeared since 2022 under circumstances that have now caught the attention of the White House and FBI.

Engineer Vanished Without Warning

Joshua LeBlanc, 29, failed to show up for work on July 22, 2025, prompting his family to report him missing at 4:32 a.m. that morning. The aerospace technologies electrical engineer had left his phone and wallet at home, raising immediate concerns among relatives who feared abduction. Police found his Tesla burned beyond recognition later that afternoon at 2:45 p.m. after the vehicle collided with a guardrail and several trees before bursting into flames in rural Huntsville, Alabama.

LeBlanc worked on NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion technology, which aims to enable faster crew and cargo missions to Mars and the outer solar system. He served as team lead for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operation, a nuclear thermal propulsion engine project. Tesla Sentry Mode data revealed his vehicle sat at the Huntsville airport for four hours the morning of his death, a trip his family said was completely unplanned and uncharacteristic.

Disturbing Pattern Across Multiple Scientists

House Oversight Chair James Comer has expressed concern about what he calls a sinister pattern in the deaths and disappearances of scientists involved in nuclear, aerospace, and defense research. Former FBI agent Nicole Parker noted unusual elements in these cases, including missing cell phones and wiped data. At least 12 other individuals, the vast majority connected to nuclear science and space research, have died or vanished since 2022 under mysterious circumstances.

Federal Investigation Underway

President Trump addressed the situation last week, stating he had just left a meeting on the subject and hoped the pattern was random. The FBI confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agency is spearheading an effort to find connections among the missing and deceased scientists, working alongside the Department of Energy, Department of War, and state and local law enforcement partners. Multiple scientists were connected to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated LeBlanc’s death, with his body identified three days after the crash through the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.