Two individuals tragically lost their lives on Friday afternoon when a small plane, which had experienced engine failure, crashed into a vehicle on an interstate highway in Florida during an attempted emergency landing, authorities reported.
The incident occurred in Collier County, Florida, where the private jet went down near a highway exit, leading to the closure of Interstate 75 due to the resulting fiery debris field. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the fatalities and stated that five people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Eyewitness Jinny Johnson, a local resident, described encountering the aftermath of the crash shortly after it occurred while traveling on I-75. She recounted seeing thick black smoke followed by flames as she approached the scene, which included a damaged car on the median. Johnson cautiously navigated through the area, witnessing the unfolding events.
The aircraft, identified as a Bombardier Challenger 600 operated by Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Charter, was en route from Ohio State University in Columbus to Naples, Florida, with plans for further travel to Fort Lauderdale. Communication with the plane was lost just before the crash, around 3:10 p.m., after it departed Ohio earlier that day.
According to a transcript of the final communication between the pilot and air traffic control, the pilot declared a double engine failure and indicated an emergency landing was imminent. However, the plane ultimately crashed at 3:12 p.m., as confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported the involvement of at least two vehicles in the collision, resulting in closures and traffic disruptions on I-75. The investigation into the crash continued into the evening, with the southbound lanes remaining closed.
Hop-A-Jet released a statement acknowledging the accident and expressing concern for the well-being of those involved. The NTSB confirmed that an investigation into the incident had been initiated, with investigators arriving at the crash site Friday afternoon.
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This incident marks at least the seventh fatal crash involving the series of Bombardier private jets since 2000, according to records from the NTSB and Aviation Safety Network. While some crashes were attributed to aircraft issues, others were attributed to pilot error or other factors.
The NTSB will conduct a thorough examination of the scene and aircraft, including reviewing maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot credentials, and witness statements, among other factors.
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Friday’s collision is the latest in a series of small plane crashes in Florida, including one the previous week in Clearwater that resulted in three fatalities. Data from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association indicates that there were 1,124 general aviation accidents in 2021, with 202 of them proving fatal.