A Cessna Citation Latitude business jet carrying six people crashed on the evening of June 16, 2026, on Loop 20 highway near Laredo, Texas, resulting in one death and five injuries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The aircraft crashed about 4 kilometers from Laredo International Airport, close to the US-Mexico border [2, 4, 5, 6].
The plane hit guardrails and a lamppost before breaking into two large sections and catching fire immediately after impact [2, 4, 5, 6]. Eyewitnesses and motorists stopped to rescue trapped passengers by trying to break cockpit windows and open cabin doors. Local eyewitness Zayra Garza described how bystanders used sledgehammers and shovels to smash the cockpit glass and tried to open the cabin door. Three passengers, who appeared to be teenagers, escaped first, followed by the pilot. A crew member attempted to drag an unconscious passenger out [2].
Five injured survivors were taken to local hospitals. Five police officers who helped at the scene were also hospitalized for smoke inhalation [2, 4, 5, 6]. Police investigator Jose Baeza said the plane struck the highway's center guardrails but no motorists in moving vehicles were reported injured [1]. One vehicle was hit by the aircraft, but no details on injuries to its occupants have been confirmed [4, 5, 6].
The plane took off from Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico around 18:19 local time and was originally bound for Austin, Texas, but diverted to Laredo due to a mechanical problem [2, 4, 5, 6]. Before losing contact, the pilot informed air traffic control of the mechanical failure [2, 4, 5].
The aircraft is owned and operated by NetJets, which is cooperating with investigators [2, 4, 5, 6]. The FAA, NTSB, and FBI have launched inquiries into the accident [4, 5].
Rescue efforts and emergency response were active immediately after the crash, which occurred near 10 p.m. local time [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Authorities continue to investigate the cause as injured survivors receive treatment.
