Investigators are examining the wreckage of a business jet that crashed on a Texas highway. The accident resulted in the death of one individual. Pilots of the aircraft reported mechanical problems while requesting an emergency landing at a nearby airport.
The fiery crash occurred late Tuesday in Laredo, near the Mexican border. Bystanders rushed from their vehicles to assist in rescuing passengers and crew from the burning jet. Recorded footage showed attempts to break the cockpit glass with a sledgehammer, while others used improvised tools to open the plane’s door. Local officials revealed that a firefighter entered the smoke-filled jet to rescue a person inside after the others had escaped.
While the loss of life is deeply regrettable, it is nothing short of a miracle that this tragedy did not become a mass fatality event,said Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño at a news conference.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez Jr. mentioned that investigators are working to reconstruct the crash at the site.
Authorities did not disclose the identity of the deceased, per family requests. Among those on board were two pilots and three teenagers.
The Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet left San José del Cabo, Mexico, bound for Austin, Texas. The plane was operated by NetJets, a company owned by Berkshire Hathaway. NetJets stated their cooperation with authorities.
The crash occurred around 10 p.m. on the Loop 20 highway, minutes after the pilots contacted the local airport for an emergency landing. They reported low fuel and a power outage. Communication with the tower was lost before the accident, according to Laredo International Airport Director Gilberto Sanchez.
Dashcam footage showed the aircraft hitting a light post on the highway before stopping near the airport. The plane also collided with a car, injuring a motorist taken to a hospital in stable condition, as stated by Laredo police investigator Jose Baeza.
Footage shared on social media displayed the jet on its side, with severe damage to the fuselage and tail. An eyewitness, Zayra Garza, described the scene as shocking and filmed the incident while her husband assisted with the rescue. Motorists aided in breaking the cockpit glass. The door opened, allowing three teenagers and a pilot to exit. Another crew member attempted to remove an unconscious person. A firefighter entered the jet to rescue a remaining passenger. Smoke inhalation affected five police officers, who received hospital treatment.
This crash is the third significant aviation accident recently. A B-52 crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday, killing all eight on board. On Sunday, a skydiving outing ended tragically in Missouri, killing 12 people.
Additional reporting was provided by AP journalists Josh Funk in Omaha, and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina.