A Bombardier Challenger 600 business jet, carrying five people, crashed onto a highway while attempting to land at Naples Airport, Florida. The tragic incident occurred on February 9, 2024, around 3:15pm local time.
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The jet had taken off from a Columbus, Ohio, airport earlier in the day. As it approached Naples Airport, the pilot reported to air traffic control that the aircraft had lost both engines and wouldn't make it to the airport. The aircraft subsequently crashed onto Interstate 75 in Naples, bursting into flames upon impact.
Witnesses reported that the wing of the plane collided with a vehicle before slamming into a wall, causing an explosion followed by rising flames and black smoke. The crash resulted in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot, tentatively identified as Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park, Florida, and co-pilot Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach, Florida. Three other individuals on board, crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, of Jupiter, Florida, and passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, from Columbus, Ohio, survived the crash. They were taken to the hospital, but their conditions remain unknown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the crash. The incident caused significant traffic disruption, with the smoke visible for miles. This tragic event underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in aviation.