Cessna jet crashes on Texas highway, killing 1 as drivers rescue survivors

Crash on Loop 20

A NetJets Cessna Citation Latitude business jet carrying six people crashed on Loop 20 highway in Laredo, Texas, shortly after 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 16. The aircraft, en route from Los Cabos, Mexico, to Austin, Texas, had diverted to Laredo after the pilot reported mechanical problems to the control tower, according to Laredo International Airport director Gilberto Sanchez. Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the signal was lost at about 600 feet, roughly 2.5 miles from the runway, at 9:58 p.m. The jet struck a protective barrier and came to rest on its side, catching fire. One person died in the crash, and five others were injured, Laredo police investigator Jose Baeza confirmed. It was not immediately clear whether the fatality was on board or on the ground, as the jet also hit a moving vehicle during its descent, though no ground injuries were initially reported.

Passengers rescued by motorists and emergency crews

Videos shared on social media show the burning wreck and the rescue effort. Motorists who witnessed the crash abandoned their vehicles and rushed to the jet, trying to break the cockpit window from the outside. Zaira Garza, an esthetician driving colleagues home, captured the scene on her phone. She saw someone inside the cockpit attempting to break the window to escape. Her husband jumped out to help, and moments later the aircraft door opened. Three teenagers ran out, followed by a man who appeared to be the pilot. Another crew member tried to pull an unconscious passenger from the plane.

“It looked like a movie scene. I was in shock.”

“What worried me was the fire. I was afraid it could explode at any moment.”

Five Laredo police officers were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation but were not seriously injured. Police, fire, and emergency medical services secured the scene and closed Loop 20 in both directions.

Mechanical failure under investigation

Baeza said the Laredo Police Department received a call from the airport control tower shortly before 10 p.m. alerting them that the pilot had reported a mechanical issue. Contact was lost soon after. Data from FlightRadar24 indicated a steady, controlled descent toward Laredo International Airport before the signal cut off. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. No identities of the passengers or the deceased have been released, as authorities are notifying family members.

“Unfortunately and tragically, there is one dead.”

Flight path and timeline

The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna Citation Latitude operated by NetJets, departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:18 p.m. local time. Its original destination was Austin, Texas, but the flight was diverted to Laredo. The reason for the diversion has not been officially stated, but it occurred after the pilot reported mechanical problems.