Explore the details of a heartbreaking plane crash on Interstate 75 near Naples, Florida. Discover the harrowing eyewitness accounts, the aftermath on the highway, and ongoing investigations into the incident.
A compact aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600 series jet, with five occupants crashed on Interstate 75 near Naples, Florida, engulfed in flames and tragically claiming two lives. The Federal Aviation Administration reported the incident around 3:15 p.m., indicating a dual engine failure as it neared Naples Airport.
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Preliminary details reveal the pilot’s distress call moments before the crash, and while three individuals managed to escape the burning wreckage, the fate of those on the ground remains uncertain. The Ohio State University Airport in Columbus served as the departure point, although the university clarified no affiliation with the ill-fated plane.
Eyewitness Brianna Walker described a harrowing scene as the plane skidded across the highway, colliding with vehicles, and eventually igniting into flames. Despite the chaos, Walker and her companion navigated through the danger, capturing the incident in videos shared on social media.
The aftermath prompted the closure of a six-mile stretch of Interstate 75 for at least 24 hours, as authorities from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol secured the area.
The National Transportation Safety Board (N.T.S.B.) is leading the investigation, focusing on flight track data, maintenance records, weather conditions, and the pilot’s credentials and activities preceding the crash.
The aircraft, registered as N823KD, was leased by Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Jet Charter, a Fort Lauderdale-based private jet travel company. Expressing immediate concern for passengers, crew, and their families, the company pledged cooperation with the investigation while withholding identities of those involved.
As the N.T.S.B. awaits further witnesses and footage, the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic incident.