Tragedy struck on Friday afternoon as a small plane crashed on Interstate 75 near Naples, Florida, leaving two people dead. The incident occurred shortly after the pilot reported an emergency to air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that there were five individuals on board the Bombardier Challenger 600 at the time of the crash.
According to tracking data from FlightAware, the ill-fated flight took off from The Ohio State University Airport around 1 p.m. and was scheduled to land at Naples Airport before continuing onwards to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. However, the journey took a devastating turn when the plane crashed at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time.
Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in the crash, as confirmed by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. On a more hopeful note, three people managed to survive the ordeal. Robin King, spokesperson for the Naples Airport Authority, stated that she was unaware of the conditions of the survivors.
Eyewitness Brianna Walker, who was driving on I-75 at the time, recounted the harrowing incident. She described how the plane flew in from behind her, clipping the top of a pickup truck in front of her before making contact with the highway. The plane skidded for about 30 feet before crashing into a concrete wall and bursting into flames. Walker shared that the impact caused the roof of the pickup truck to be torn off, resulting in it flipping over. Miraculously, the driver of the truck managed to escape unharmed.
Walker expressed her shock, comparing the scene to something out of a movie. She also mentioned that it appeared as though the pilot was attempting to make an emergency landing on the highway. Just moments after the crash, an explosion occurred, causing thick black smoke to billow from the already aflame aircraft. Despite motorists’ efforts to help in the aftermath of the crash, the subsequent explosion caused people to flee in fear.
Prior to the crash, the pilot radioed air traffic controllers to report an emergency. Transmissions captured by LiveATC.net revealed the pilot stating, “Lost both engines. Emergency.” The pilot was then cleared to land on the runway, but in the final recording heard from the aircraft, they expressed their inability to make it to the runway.
The crash took place on the southbound lanes of I-75 near Pine Ridge Road, resulting in a significant portion of the highway being closed. The exact reopening time was not specified by the sheriff’s office. Investigation into the incident is being carried out by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
As this tragic event unfolds, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those affected. The aviation community awaits further updates from the ongoing investigation.
