Jet Crashes on Texas Highway, Erupts in Flames

A business jet operated by NetJets crashed onto a highway in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night, killing one person and injuring several others, authorities say. The Cessna 680A, carrying six people from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Austin, reported mechanical problems and declared an emergency before attempting to divert to Laredo International Airport around 10pm local time, according to airport officials and the FAA. The plane instead went down on Loop 20 a few miles short of the runway, striking a passenger vehicle before catching fire in dramatic scenes, the Guardian reports. Witnesses used a sledgehammer to attempt to free occupants from the plane, which was "nearly sheared in half," per the AP.

One person on the jet died; the five other occupants and the driver of the motor vehicle were taken to local hospitals and were described as in stable condition. Five police officers were treated after inhaling smoke while helping with rescues. NetJets, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, confirmed one of its aircraft, tail number N523QS, was involved and said its crisis and family support teams were being deployed. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have opened a joint investigation into the cause of the crash, and the deceased's identity is being withheld pending family notification.