Scottsdale Airport in Arizona has been forced to shut after a plane “skid off the runway” and smashed into a private jet, with at least one person reported to have been killed
At least one person is dead and four are injured after a privat jet “skid off the runway” and smashed into a second plane at Scottsdale Aiport in Arizona.
The scene was swarmed by emergency crews following the crash that occurred around 2.45pm local time, involving two multi-million dollar luxury private jets.
Local reports indicate that two individuals have been taken to hospital, while another person remains trapped. Footage from the scene shows a downed plane surrounded by numerous ambulances and fire trucks.
Scottsdale Fire Department Captain Dave Folio said: “We have five souls, one (dead on arrival), two immediate that have been transported to local trauma centers, one delayed stable to a local hospital, and this is still an active scene.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed the harrowing event: “A Learjet 35A veered off the runway after landing and crashed into a Gulfstream 200 business jet on the ramp at Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Arizona around 2:45 p.m. local time Monday, Feb. 10. We do not know how many people were on board. The FAA is temporarily pausing flights into the airport.”
This incident follows the recent tragedy where a small commuter plane en route to Nome, Alaska, crashed on sea ice last Friday, claiming the lives of all 10 passengers aboard, marking it as one of the state’s deadliest crashes in over two decades.
The hunt was on for a missing aircraft when the U.S. Coast Guard’s eyes in the sky caught sight of the crash site, with spokesperson Mike Salerno delivering the sombre update. Dive-bombing into action, two heroic rescue swimmers were dispatched to the scene of the tragedy.
Nome’s Mayor John Handeland was visibly moved when talking about the town’s devastating blow and the flurry of efforts to rally round.
Handeland said: “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident.”
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