A small jet carrying six people crashed on a highway in South Texas Tuesday evening, killing one person and injuring five others. The plane, a NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude business jet, had departed San José del Cabo, Mexico, and was bound for Austin, Texas, before diverting toward Laredo.

Rescue Efforts

Bystanders jumped in to assist emergency services in rescuing passengers from the fiery wreckage. Video shared by a witness from the scene showed emergency responders attempting to crack open the plane’s windshield as authorities and bystanders assisted several people out of the burning aircraft.

Authorities responded to the scene shortly before 10 p.m. local time after receiving a call from the local airport tower after the plane reported mechanical issues. The plane lost contact with air traffic controllers before it crashed the highway, hitting a moving vehicle on its descent.

FlightRadar24 data shows a steady, controlled descent into Laredo International Airport, until the signal cut out at around 600 feet, roughly two and a half miles short of the runway, at about 9:58 p.m. local time.

Laredo International Airport Director Gilberto Sanchez also told CNN affiliate KGNS the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure before crashing.

Police did not reveal the identities of the six on board or the condition of those injured. The victims have been transported to a local hospital.

“Regrettably and tragically there is one deceased involved in this crash,” said Laredo Police Public Information Officer Jose Baeza.

Federal agencies, including the National Transportation Security Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, have been notified and officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already on-site.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.