Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials confirmed in a press release that they are on the scene of a “small plane” that made an emergency landing on Interstate 75 (I-75) southbound near mile marker 107 (Pine Ridge Road). is in Collier County.
On landing, the plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 jet, collided with a vehicle, officials said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that five people were on board the private jet.
A spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there were two deaths. He could not confirm whether they were passengers on the jet or in the car.
According to authorities, the plane was traveling from Ohio and lost both engines before the crash. He was about to leave Naples for Fort Lauderdale.
Broward County resident Garrett Elsinger told NBC6 he was driving to Tampa with his son when they heard an explosion and saw orange flames and what they thought was a car crash.
“Within a few seconds, we were getting closer and we thought, wait a minute, that’s not a car, that’s a plane,” Elsinger said. “There was thick, black smoke billowing out and as we got closer I was thinking this isn’t a small Cessna plane that I read that came in and landed on the road, it’s a jet, it’s a big airliner.”
Southbound lanes of I-75 are currently closed.
FHP asks drivers to avoid the area if possible and find an alternate route. FHP will provide additional updates as needed.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.
It’s a developing story, stay with Telemundo 51 for more information.
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