Both engines flamed out on a small business jet before it crashed on a Texas highway in June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated in a preliminary investigation report released Friday. The engine failures prevented the pilots from reaching Laredo International Airport.
The flight crew reported an "unusual vibration" early in the flight after departing from San José del Cabo, Mexico, en route to Austin, Texas. After consulting with NetJets, the operating company, they decided to proceed to their destination. As the jet neared the U.S.-Mexico border, the crew received messages indicating low fuel pressure, followed by additional warnings, prompting them to declare an emergency.
Air traffic controllers in Houston were informed of a generator failure and "multiple other failures," including "fuel level low." The flight crew requested to divert to Laredo International Airport. While on final approach, the right engine flamed out, and the left engine failed moments later.
Video footage showed two instances of fire flaring up around the aircraft as it approached the runway. When asked by a pilot if there was an open field to their right, air traffic control responded that only the main highway was available.
The crew maneuvered the jet to land on the highway approximately one mile southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown, the aircraft sheared off light poles, struck a vehicle, and came to rest straddling an overpass. The main cabin exit door was oriented upward, but five people managed to escape.
Bystanders rushed to assist in rescuing passengers and crew from the burning aircraft. One individual used a sledgehammer to attempt to break the cockpit glass, while others used makeshift tools to open the plane's door. A firefighter entered the smoke-filled jet to extract one person who remained inside after the others had exited.
The jet sustained substantial damage to its fuselage, wings, and tail. Of the individuals on board, two pilots and three teenagers survived the crash and were released from the hospital. A dog on board also survived and was expected to recover. The crash resulted in the death of Joshua Baer, a prominent figure in Texas' technology and startup sectors. Six people were injured in total.