A private jet crash in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night resulted in one death and five injuries. The NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude crash-landed on Loop 20 shortly after 10 p.m., colliding with a moving vehicle before coming to rest upside down and engulfed in flames. Five survivors were taken to a local hospital in stable condition, while one individual did not survive the incident.
Video footage from the scene showed bystanders attempting to assist, with one man using a sledgehammer and another using a shovel to try to break the cockpit glass and open the aircraft's door. Witness Zayra Garza described the scene as shocking, expressing concern about the potential for an explosion due to the fire.
The aircraft had departed San José del Cabo, Mexico, earlier that evening and was en route to Austin when it diverted to Laredo after reporting a mechanical issue. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board, are currently investigating the crash. Some first responders experienced smoke inhalation during their efforts.
Loop 20 remained closed through Wednesday morning as investigators continued their work. Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño emphasized the importance of allowing a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions, while Laredo Police Public Information Officer Jose Baeza confirmed the tragic nature of the event. The identities of those involved have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.