One person was killed when a private plane crash-landed on a Texas highway Tuesday night as bystanders and emergency crews rushed to the fiery wreckage to free those inside the aircraft.
Video from the scene posted online showed the plane upside down and engulfed in flames in Laredo shortly after 10 p.m.
Six people were on board the plane, according to Laredo police public information officer Jose Baeza. Five survivors were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
A passenger jumps out of a plane after it crashed on a highway as other people help in Laredo, Texas, June 16, 2026. APTwo men — one armed with a sledgehammer and another with a shovel — used the tools to strike the cockpit glass and try to pry open the plane’s door.
The aircraft was identified as a NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude that departed San José del Cabo, Mexico, around 6:18 p.m. local time and was headed for Austin before diverting toward Laredo, according to FlightRadar24.
The crash happened on Loop 20 near the US-Mexico border after the airport tower reported a private aircraft had a mechanical issue and lost contact with the plane, KGNS News reported.
A few minutes later, a crash landing was reported near Saunders, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Police said the aircraft came down on the highway and struck a moving car, shutting down traffic in both directions and scattering debris across multiple lanes.
“Regrettably and tragically there is one deceased involved in this crash,” Baeza told reporters from the scene. “What we have tonight is a tragic event.”
“Some police first responders suffered from smoke inhalation,” he said.
People attempt to pull passengers out of the plane after it crashed on a highway. APPolice said they are still working to identify those involved and will not release names until families are notified.
“It looked like part of a movie. I was in shock,” witness Zayra Garza said, adding she was driving her co-workers home when she came upon the crash.
“What was worrying me was the fire,” she said, noting, “I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time.”
NetJets, a private jet company owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, said it is working with authorities, the Associated Press reported.
Police say six people were onboard and one was killed. APLaredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño urged patience as authorities work the case.
“As mayor, I understand the importance of allowing investigators to complete a thorough and objective review before drawing any conclusions,” he said, according to KGNS News.
“Aviation investigations take time, and it is important that we avoid speculation while the facts are being gathered.”
Officials said Loop 20 will remain closed through much of Wednesday, June 17, as federal agencies take over the investigation, including the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board.
With Post wires
