A Cessna Citation Latitude operated by NetJets crashed while attempting to land at Laredo International Airport in Texas on Tuesday night, killing one of the six people on board.
The aircraft, registration N523QS, had departed Los Cabos, Mexico, bound for Austin, Texas, before diverting to Laredo following an in-flight emergency. The jet went down on a highway about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of the airport during the approach.
Local authorities said six people were aboard the aircraft. One occupant died in the accident, while the other five escaped the wreckage and were taken to hospital. Several police officers involved in the rescue effort were also treated for smoke inhalation.
Videos recorded at the scene showed the aircraft resting against a highway barrier after impact, with the forward section engulfed in flames. Bystanders and emergency responders were seen helping occupants evacuate the burning jet.
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The aircraft involved was a Cessna 680 Citation Latitude manufactured in 2016. It was operated by NetJets, the fractional ownership company owned by Berkshire Hathaway, which is one of the largest business aviation operators in the world and has more than 250 Citation Latitude aircraft in service.
According to preliminary information, the jet departed Los Cabos at approximately 6:19 p.m. local time and later diverted to Laredo for reasons that have not been disclosed. It crashed before reaching the runway.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened an investigation. Authorities have not released details about the nature of the emergency or the circumstances that led to the crash.
The Citation Latitude is a midsize business jet capable of carrying up to nine passengers and two pilots. The type entered service in 2015 and is widely used in the fractional ownership and charter markets.
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