Fiery private jet crash on Texas highway sees bystanders rush to free passengers; 1 killed

Bystanders and first responders raced towards a burning passenger plane after it crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, Tuesday night, in a bid to free those on board. As flames rose from the aircraft, which was tipped on its side and nearly sheared in half, video taken at the scene by Zayra Garza and verified by NBC News showed people running towards it. Two of them were carrying a shovel and a sledgehammer, which they used to strike the cockpit glass and pry the door open. At one point, several passengers can be seen escaping through the door. In a separate video shared by police, firefighters can also be seen dousing the plane wreckage as it lay over a highway divider. On several occasions, officers helping prop open the door dart away from the plane and double over coughing because of the intense smoke. “It looked like part of a movie. I was in shock,” Garza, an esthetician, told the Associated Press. “What was worrying me was the fire,” she added. “I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time.” “Regrettably and tragically,” one of the six people aboard the plane died, Jose Baeza, an investigator with the Laredo Police Department, told reporters in a briefing. The identity of the deceased had not been released as the next of kin had not been officially notified, he added. Laredo, TX Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño said in a Wednesday morning statement that “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by the recent private jet crash.” Treviño, in the statement, acknowledged the importance of allowing investigators to do their jobs “before drawing any conclusions.” “Aviation investigations take time, and it is important that we avoid speculation while the facts are being gathered,” he said. Treviño said he was “at the scene and witnessed firsthand the professionalism, courage, and dedication of our first responders,” and thanked police, fire, and EMS personnel, as well as emergency responders “for their swift actions in suppressing the fire, securing the area, and protecting the public.” “Until more information is confirmed, our focus should remain on supporting those impacted, honoring those affected, and respecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” he said. One vehicle that was traveling southbound was struck by the aircraft, Baeza said. Five first responders were also treated for smoke inhalation, he added. Baeza said the plane crashed on Loop 20, which remains shut down in both directions, and asked drivers to make alternative plans for their morning commute. A separate dashcam video, verified by NBC News, showed the plane skidding down the highway as it crashed, knocking over several streetlights. It’s not clear what may have caused the plane to crash. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is already on site, he said, and other federal agencies will be arriving on the scene shortly to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Investigators are also asking anyone who may have video or dash-cam footage of the crash to come forward. This was the third significant aviation accident in as many days. A B-52 crashed Monday during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing all eight people aboard. On Sunday, 12 people were killed when a plane on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed.