A privately owned business jet linked to Warren Buffett crashed and caught fire on a busy Texas highway, resulting in one fatality and prompting bystanders to break the plane’s windows in an attempt to rescue passengers. The incident occurred on Loop 20 highway in Laredo around 10 pm local time on Tuesday. The aircraft, which had six passengers on board, collided with moving cars as it descended.
Pictures from the scene showed the small aircraft overturned with flames engulfing the rear section and a dense plume of smoke rising after crashing into a barrier on the highway, causing the tail to detach from the fuselage. Two individuals from the public quickly arrived with a sledgehammer and shovel to break through the cockpit glass to help open the plane’s door.
It was uncertain whether the deceased individual was onboard the plane or on the ground. No injuries on the ground were reported immediately, although five officers were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. According to FlightAware data, the aircraft involved was a Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet that departed from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico at 6:19 pm local time. The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Zayra Garza, a driver who witnessed the incident while giving her colleagues a ride home, described seeing someone inside the plane attempting to break the cockpit window to escape. Subsequently, other drivers joined in trying to break the window from outside. Garza’s husband also got out of their vehicle to assist, leading to the opening of the plane’s door.
Three individuals who appeared to be teenagers exited the plane, followed by a person resembling a pilot, with another crew member attempting to extract an unconscious individual. Garza expressed shock at the scene, particularly concerned about the fire erupting at any moment.
NetJets, the company owning the aircraft, confirmed the crash and stated they are cooperating with authorities. The company, a part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, offers fractional ownership of private jets. Warren Buffett, known as one of the wealthiest individuals globally with an estimated net worth of around $146.5 billion (£108 billion) according to Forbes Real Time Billionaires, holds the 10th position on the list.
Buffett, often called the ‘Oracle of Omaha,’ amassed his fortune as the chairman and longtime CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, establishing himself as one of the most successful investors in history.