A business jet owned by Warren Buffett crashed and burst into flames on a busy Texas highway, resulting in one fatality. Drivers rushed to smash the plane's windows in an attempt to free trapped passengers.
Crash Details
The aircraft, carrying six passengers, crashed into moving cars on the Loop 20 highway in Laredo around 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to police. Images showed the small plane flipped on its side with flames tearing through the back and a thick column of smoke after it collided with a barrier. The tail was ripped from the fuselage.
Two members of the public arrived with a sledgehammer and shovel, which they used to break the cockpit glass and prop open the plane's door.
Casualties and Injuries
It remains unclear whether the deceased was on the plane or on the ground. No ground injuries were immediately reported, though five officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Aircraft and Flight Path
According to FlightAware data, the plane was a Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet. It departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:19 p.m. local time. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Witness Account
Zayra Garza, an aesthetician driving home, saw someone inside the plane trying to break the cockpit window. Moments later, drivers left their vehicles to help from the outside. Garza's husband joined the effort before the plane's door opened.
Three people who appeared to be teenagers rushed out, followed by someone who looked like a pilot, Garza said. Another crew member tried to pull out an unconscious person. "It looked like part of a movie. I was in shock," Garza said. "What was worrying me was the fire. I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time."
Company Response
NetJets, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, confirmed the crash involved one of its aircraft and said it is cooperating with authorities. The company allows people to buy partial ownership in private jets.
