At least one person has been confirmed dead and five others injured after a business jet crashed onto a busy highway in Texas, United States, late Tuesday night, authorities said.
The aircraft, a NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude business jet carrying six people, went down on Loop 20 highway in Laredo at about 10 p.m. local time while en route from Los Cabos, Mexico, to Austin, Texas.
Dramatic videos from the scene showed the aircraft engulfed in flames after impact, with debris scattered across several lanes of the highway.
Authorities confirmed that one person died in the crash, while five others sustained injuries. It remains unclear whether the deceased was among those on board the aircraft or on the ground.
Witnesses and motorists rushed to the scene to assist survivors trapped inside the wreckage. Video footage showed individuals attempting to break the cockpit window and open the aircraft door to help passengers escape.
Two men were seen using a sledgehammer and shovel to smash the cockpit glass and create an exit route for those inside.
Another video captured the aircraft skidding along the highway before striking a roadside post and coming to a stop near the Laredo International Airport.
yewitness Zayra Garza described the incident as surreal.
“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.”
Garza said her husband immediately left their vehicle to assist those on board.
According to her, three people believed to be teenagers emerged from the aircraft, followed by an individual who appeared to be one of the pilots.
She added that another crew member attempted to pull an unconscious passenger from the wreckage.
Emergency responders later arrived at the scene and worked to extinguish the fire and rescue the remaining occupants.
A firefighter was seen climbing into the damaged aircraft using a ladder while others sprayed water on the burning wreckage. Rescue teams could also be heard requesting ropes and support equipment as they worked to access the cabin.
Officials said no injuries were reported among people on the ground. However, five police officers were hospitalised for smoke inhalation sustained during rescue operations.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware identified the aircraft as a Cessna Citation Latitude twin-engine business jet. The flight departed Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:19 p.m. and was bound for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
However, Laredo International Airport Director Gilberto Sanchez told local television station KGNS that the aircraft may have suffered a mechanical failure before going down.
NetJets confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident and said it was cooperating with investigators.
The crash is the latest in a series of aviation incidents reported in the United States in recent days.
On Sunday, 12 people were killed when a plane carrying skydivers crashed in Missouri. A day later, eight crew members reportedly died after a B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after take-off from Edwards Air Force Base in California during what authorities described as a routine test mission.
Investigations into the Texas crash were ongoing.
