Tragedy struck on a Florida highway when a private jet crashed after experiencing engine failure, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has identified the pilot, Edward Daniel Murphy, and co-pilot, Ian Frederick Hofmann, as the deceased. The crash also left three survivors, including crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans and passengers Aaron Baker and Audra Green. While their conditions remain unknown, they were promptly taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The harrowing incident occurred moments after the pilot calmly informed an airport controller that the plane would not be able to reach the runway due to engine failure. With five people on board, the jet was en route to Naples Airport when it attempted an emergency landing on Interstate 75. Witnesses describe the horrifying scene as the wing of the aircraft collided with a vehicle, dragging it along before crashing into a wall. A massive explosion followed, engulfing the area in flames and black smoke.
Authorities from federal agencies have initiated an investigation into the crash, situated near Naples. The ill-fated flight had departed from Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, and was scheduled to arrive in Naples around the time of the tragedy. The pilot had communicated with the airport tower, requesting an emergency landing due to the loss of both engines. Despite the air traffic controller’s clearance to land, the pilot acknowledged that they would not be able to reach the runway in time.
Shortly after losing contact with the tower, airport workers spotted smoke rising from the nearby interstate. Responding swiftly, they dispatched fire trucks equipped with special foam to the crash site. Miraculously, three out of the five individuals on board were rescued from the wreckage and transported to safety.
Eyewitnesses recount their terrifying encounters with the doomed aircraft. Brianna Walker narrowly escaped disaster as she witnessed the plane’s wing dragging a car in front of hers before smashing into a wall. “It’s seconds that separated us from the car in front of us,” she recalls. Walker’s quick thinking allowed her friend to pull over just in time before the catastrophic collision. She describes the plane passing mere inches above their heads before veering sharply and skidding across the highway.
According to the FlightAware aircraft tracker, the ill-fated plane belonged to Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter, a Fort Lauderdale-based company. The aircraft was scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale later that afternoon. The company expressed deep concern for the well-being of its passengers, crew members, and their families. They promptly announced plans to send a team to the crash site for further investigation.
Ohio State University clarified that the aircraft involved in the crash is not affiliated with the institution and provided no additional information. Federal authorities have indicated that a preliminary report on the crash’s cause will be released within 30 days.
As news of this tragic incident continues to unfold, our thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones. The aviation community mourns the loss of two lives and hopes for the swift recovery of the survivors.
