10th February, 2024
Two persons have been confirmed dead after a jet with five passengers crashed on Florida highway, bursting into flames.
The New York Post quoted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as saying the Bombardier Challenger 600 jet smashed onto Interstate 75 near Naples around 3:15 p.m. on Friday.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office said two fatalities have been confirmed, saying that three others survived the crash.
Two vehicles were also said to be involved in the accident.
The jet was owned by a charter company called Hop a Jet Worldwide Jet Charter, according to NBC 2.
The online portal reports that the FAA has closed a large section of I-75 in Collier County. Both southbound traffic at mile marker 111 (Immokalee Road) and northbound traffic at mile marker 105 (Golden Gate Parkway) are closed.
The jet reportedly left Fort Lauderdale at 9:15 a.m. Friday morning and landed in Columbus, Ohio at 11:57 a.m.
Naples Air Traffic Controllers said the aircraft left Columbus at 1:02 p.m. Tracking of the flight stopped right before it crashed.
Officials confirmed it was supposed to land in Naples and then head back to Fort Lauderdale at 3:30 p.m.
The aircraft was approximately 250 feet in the air when it crashed NBC 2 reports.
The crashed jet was said not to have run out of fuel as Air traffic controllers said the fire was from the fuel.