Additional Coverage:
- Texas plane crash leaves one dead, more injured after business jet catches fire on highway (foxnews.com)
A business jet crashed on a Texas highway Tuesday night, igniting a fire and resulting in one fatality, authorities confirmed.
The Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet, carrying six people, went down on Loop 20 in Laredo shortly after 10 p.m., said Jose Baeza, an investigator with the Laredo Police Department. The aircraft also struck a vehicle during the crash. At this time, officials have not clarified whether the person who died was aboard the plane or in the vehicle.
While initial reports indicated no serious injuries on the ground, five responding officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The condition of the passengers on the plane remains unknown.
Loop 20 was shut down following the incident and is expected to remain closed through Wednesday morning, according to Baeza.
Flight records show the jet departed Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:19 p.m. NetJets, the plane’s operator, confirmed the aircraft was one of their fleet and stated they are cooperating fully with investigators.
The cause of the crash as the plane approached Laredo, approximately 140 miles southwest of San Antonio, has not yet been determined. Social media footage captured the aircraft lying on its side against a highway barrier, with significant damage including a torn-off tail section. Authorities continue to investigate the tragic event.