1 dead after private plane crashes onto Texas highway, police say
Startup accelerator Capital Factory confirmed its CEO, Joshua Baer, was killed.
A private plane crashed late Tuesday onto a highway in Laredo, Texas, killing one of the six people on board and sending the others to the hospital, police said.
Austin-based startup accelerator Capital Factory confirmed to ABC Austin affiliate KVUE that its CEO, Joshua Baer, was killed in the plane crash.
There were also three teenagers and two pilots on board, police said. Some of the passengers were related and some were friends, police said.
Five minutes before the crash, the pilots called the Laredo airport and reported mechanical issues, according to Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez.
The plane had taken off from Mexico's San Jose del Cabo on Tuesday evening and was bound for Austin before diverting to Laredo, according to tracking data. The flight track ends over Laredo's Bob Bullock Loop, which is Texas State Highway Loop 20.
Police said they began getting 911 calls reporting an aircraft crash at about 10 p.m. local time. The plane hit a vehicle as it landed on the highway, authorities said.
"While the loss of life is deeply regrettable, it is nothing short of a miracle that this tragedy did not become a mass fatality event," Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "Several police officers and firefighters placed themselves in harm's way and risked their own life to rescue passengers. Their heroic actions combined with the coordination efforts of all responding agencies undoubtedly saved lives."
When the fire department arrived on scene, several people were already outside the plane with assistance from community members and police, said Laredo Fire Chief Guillermo Heard. The fire department went inside the plane to retrieve the remaining person on board, along with a small pet.
Five police officers were sent to the hospital with smoke inhalation and were later released.
Part of the plane remained on the road early on Wednesday, Laredo Police Department investigator Joe Baeza told reporters during an earlier press conference. He added that there was also jet fuel on the road, which would require a clean-up.
"Loop 20 will be closed both north- and southbound at this intersection for a very long time," Beaza said.
Chief Rodriguez said they have permission from federal authorities to start picking up debris, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is on the scene. He said they hope to reopen the highway by 5 p.m. Wednesday local time.
The FBI was also on site, Beaza said.
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation with its help.
Based on FlightRadar24 tracking data, the plane was a Cessna Citation Latitude with the registration N523QS.
Private aviation company NetJets said in a statement, "We are aware of an event involving a NetJets aircraft in Laredo, Texas, and are working with authorities."
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