A business jet crashed on Loop 20 highway in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night, killing one person and sparking a dramatic rescue effort as the aircraft burst into flames.
The plane, a Cessna Citation Latitude carrying six people, had departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico before crashing shortly after 10pm local time. It came down on the highway, overturned, and caught fire, causing panic among motorists nearby.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as people abandoned their vehicles and rushed toward the burning wreckage in an attempt to smash the cockpit window and rescue those trapped inside. Video footage showed passengers struggling to escape while others tried to pull survivors from the wreckage, according to AP.
Authorities confirmed one fatality, though it was not immediately clear whether the victim was onboard the aircraft or on the ground. No injuries were reported among motorists, but five police officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation during the response.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The aircraft is operated by NetJets, which said it is cooperating with authorities as they work to determine what led to the incident.
