A jet carrying five crashed on a Florida highway, leaving two people dead after it exploded in flames.
TheFederal Aviation Administration(FAA) reported that the Bombardier Challenger 600 jet crashed on Highway I-75 near Naples around 3:15 p.m. on Friday. The jet had departed from The Ohio State University Airport at 1:02 p.m. and was scheduled to land at Naples Airport at 3:12 p.m., according toFlightAware.
According to theAssociated Press, the small plane collided with a car after crashing onto the highway while attempting to make an emergency landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told PEOPLE that preliminary information shows that the pilot radioed that the airplane had a “dual engine failure” on approach into the Naples airport.
Brianna Walker, who was driving on the highway at the time of the crash, told the Associated Press that she witnessed the wing of the plane drag the car in front of her.
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There were two confirmed fatalities from the crash, according to theCollier County Sheriff’s Department. PEOPLE has reached out to the department for comment.
As of Friday night, all southbound lanes on the highway remained closed, and all northbound lanes on I-75 between mile marker 105 (Golden Gate Parkway) and mile marker 111 (Immokalee Road) were reopened.
The sheriff’s departmentadvised travelersto expect delays and find alternate routes when traveling southbound. The FAA is collaborating with the NTSB to investigate the crash.
The NTSB told PEOPLE that an investigator arrived at the crash scene Friday, and “several more” are expected to arrive on Saturday.
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“They will document the scene and examine the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation,” the NTSB told PEOPLE.
source: people.com
