A tragic plane crash in Laredo, Texas, has claimed one life after a business jet slammed into a highway and erupted in flames. The incident occurred on the Loop 20 highway around 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Details of the Crash
The jet, a Cessna Citation Latitude twin engine aircraft, was carrying six passengers when it crashed. According to FlightAware data, the plane had departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:19 p.m. local time. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene as drivers rushed to help those trapped inside the overturned plane. Flames engulfed the aircraft, and a thick column of smoke rose above it. The tail was torn from the fuselage after the plane hit a barrier on the highway.
Witness Accounts
Zayra Garza, an esthetician driving her colleagues home, saw someone inside the plane attempting to break the cockpit window to escape. Moments later, drivers left their vehicles to try to smash the window from the outside. Garza's husband jumped out to assist, and she then saw the door open. Three people who appeared to be teenagers rushed out, followed by someone who looked like a pilot. 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."
Casualties and Response
Sadly, one person has died as a result of the collision. It was unclear if the victim was on the plane or on the ground. No injuries on the ground were immediately reported, though five police officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.
NetJets Statement
NetJets, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, confirmed in a statement that the crash involved one of its aircraft and that it is cooperating with authorities. NetJets allows individuals to purchase partial ownership in private jets.
