Plane Crash in Laredo, Texas
Authorities have confirmed that one person died following the crash of a private business jet on a highway in Laredo, Texas.
According to Laredo Police Department’s Public Information Officer, Jose Baeza, the incident occurred around 10 PM CST on Tuesday. He mentioned that there were six individuals aboard the small passenger aircraft, which included the crew, and all were ejected during the crash. During a press conference, no further details were given about the fatalities, as families had not yet been notified.
Baeza clarified, emphasizing the preliminary nature of their findings, that the accident took place on the northbound lanes of Loop 20. Both directions of the road were closed following the collision between a southbound vehicle and a portion of the wrecked plane. Later on, the police department announced on Facebook that the highway would remain closed for most of the day.
He also noted that five responding officers required hospitalization due to smoke inhalation. The need for containment of aviation fuel, which burns at higher temperatures than regular fuel, was also underscored.
Additionally, Baeza confirmed that federal agencies, including the FBI, are involved in the investigation.
In correspondence on Wednesday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) verified that the aircraft was a Cessna 680A being operated by NetJets.
NetJets acknowledged on its website that one of its planes had been in an accident, reporting one injured individual and one fatality.
“Our immediate concern is the health of our crew, passengers, and their families during this period,” the airline stated.
The FAA reported that the jet was traveling from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, to Austin, Texas. They also indicated that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would take the lead in the investigation.
Videos circulating online depict police officers, with assistance from bystanders, trying to access the plane’s windows and doors to rescue those trapped inside. However, Baeza mentioned the difficulty in verifying much of the information shared online.
Baeza also requested that anyone with footage of the crash share it with investigators. The Laredo Police Department encouraged individuals to upload videos and photos to their designated Facebook page.
