Moments before a private jet slammed into a Florida highway, the pilot calmly told an airport controller that the aircraft 香蕉视频直播渨as not going to make the runway香蕉视频直播 since it had lost both engines.
The jet, with five people aboard, was bound for the airport in Naples when it tried to make an emergency landing on Interstate 75 on Friday afternoon. But witnesses say it collided with a vehicle 香蕉视频直播 the wing of the plane dragging a car before slamming into a wall. An explosion followed, with flames and black smoke rising from the scene.
Two people were killed, according to the Collier County Sheriff香蕉视频直播檚 Office, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 immediately know whether the victims had been passengers on the plane or were on the ground.
Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the crash near Naples, just north of where the interstate heads east toward Fort Lauderdale along what is known as Alligator Alley. One National Transportation Safety Board investigator arrived at the crash site Friday afternoon, with several more expected to arrive on Saturday.
The plane had taken off from an airport at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, at about 1 p.m. It was scheduled to land in Naples around the time of the crash, Naples Airport Authority spokesperson Robin King said, when pilot contacted the tower requesting an emergency landing.
香蕉视频直播淕ot that. Emergency. Clear to land. Runway. Two. Three,香蕉视频直播 the air traffic controller responded to the pilot, in audio obtained by The Associated Press.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e clear to land but we香蕉视频直播檙e not gonna make the runway. We香蕉视频直播檝e lost both engines,香蕉视频直播 the pilot calmly replied.
The tower lost contact, and then airport workers saw the smoke from the interstate just a few miles away, King said.
King said they sent fire trucks with special foam to the scene, and three of the five people on board were taken from the wreckage alive.
Brianna Walker saw the wing of the plane drag the car in front of hers and slam into the wall.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 seconds that separated us from the car in front of us,香蕉视频直播 she said. 香蕉视频直播淭he wing pulverized this one car.香蕉视频直播
Walker and her friend spotted the plane moments before it hit the highway, allowing her friend to pull over before the crash.
香蕉视频直播淭he plane was over our heads by inches,香蕉视频直播 she said. 香蕉视频直播淚t took a hard right and skid across the highway.香蕉视频直播
According to the FlightAware aircraft tracker, the plane was operated by Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The aircraft had been scheduled to fly back to Fort Lauderdale on Friday afternoon.
Hop-a-Jet said Friday night that it had 香蕉视频直播渞eceived confirmed reports of an accident involving one of our leased aircraft near Naples香蕉视频直播 and would send a team to the crash site, the Naples Daily News reported.
香蕉视频直播淥ur immediate concern is for the well-being of our passengers, crew members, and their families,香蕉视频直播 the statement said. It didn香蕉视频直播檛 contain details of the crash.
A spokesperson for Ohio State University said the aircraft is not affiliated with the university, and they had no further information about it.
Federal authorities said a preliminary report about the cause of the crash can be expected in 30 days.
The Associated Press