A tragic collision between two private jets occurred at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona on Monday afternoon, resulting in at least one death and several injuries.
The Crash Details
According to Kelli Kuester, Scottsdale Airport’s aviation coordinator, a midsize business jet collided with another jet that was parked. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the jet had veered off the runway before crashing into the stationary aircraft.
“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,” said an FAA spokesperson.
As a result, the FAA has temporarily halted flights into the airport. Meanwhile, the exact number of people aboard the jet remains unknown.
Injuries and Hospitalizations
In addition, Scottsdale Fire Department Capt. Dave Folio stated that two injured individuals were taken to trauma centers, while another person is in stable condition at the hospital.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everybody involved in this,” Folio said.
Airport Closures
Furthermore, the runway where the collision took place has been closed. Kuester confirmed that it will remain shut down “for the foreseeable future.”
Scottsdale Airport is a key hub for private jets, particularly during major events like the Waste Management Open golf tournament, which draws large crowds just a few miles away.
Recent Aviation Disasters
This collision follows a series of aviation tragedies in the past two weeks. For example, on January 29, a commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near Washington D.C., killing 67 people. Then, on January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing six people on board and one person on the ground. Last week, a small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska, resulting in the deaths of all 10 people on board.