Bystanders and first responders raced toward a burning passenger plane after it crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday night in a bid to free those on board.
Video taken at the scene by Zayra Garza and verified by NBC News showed people running toward the aircraft, which was tipped on its side and nearly sheared in half, as flames rose from it.
Two of them were carrying a shovel and a sledgehammer, which they used to strike the cockpit glass and pry the door open.
At one point, several passengers escape through the door. In a separate video shared by police, firefighters douse the plane wreckage as it lies over a highway divider.
Several times, officers helping prop open the door dart away from the plane and double over coughing because of the intense smoke.
“It looked like part of a movie. I was in shock,” Garza, an esthetician, told The Associated Press. “What was worrying me was the fire. I was concerned that it could have just exploded at any time.”
One of the six aboard died, Laredo police investigator Jose Baeza told reporters.
Police did not identify the person killed Wednesday morning. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said it was Josh Baer, who founded the Austin-based technology venture firm Capital Factory.
“Josh has been one of the most significant figures driving innovation and entrepreneurship across America,” Cruz said on X. “In Texas, he made our state a global leader. His impact was incalculable.”
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. In a statement to the Austin-American Statesman, it called Baer a “fearless leader, a brilliant partner, and a dear friend to so many of us.”
“While we are devastated by this unimaginable loss, Josh built an incredibly resilient organization and team,” it said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna 680A business jet crashed south of Laredo around 10 p.m.
Six people were on board, it said. The aircraft took off from San José del Cabo, Mexico, and was bound for Austin.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate, with the NTSB taking the lead.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by the recent private jet crash,” Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Treviño acknowledged the importance of allowing investigators to do their jobs “before drawing any conclusions.”
“Aviation investigations take time, and it is important that we avoid speculation while the facts are being gathered,” he said.
Treviño said he was “at the scene and witnessed firsthand the professionalism, courage, and dedication of our first responders,” and he thanked police, fire and EMS personnel, as well as emergency responders, “for their swift actions in suppressing the fire, securing the area, and protecting the public.”
“Until more information is confirmed, our focus should remain on supporting those impacted, honoring those affected, and respecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” he said.
Treviño said at a news conference that it was a “miracle” that the crash was not a mass casualty event.
Baeza said that the aircraft struck a vehicle that was traveling southbound and that five first responders were treated for smoke inhalation.
Baeza said the plane crashed on Loop 20, which remained shut down in both directions, and asked drivers to make alternative plans for their morning commutes. Officials said the loop would not be open “anytime soon.”
Officials were working to clear the crash site as the NTSB processes it for its investigation. The NTSB will also retrieve the plane’s black box to gain more information as to why and how it crashed.
A separate dashcam video, verified by NBC News, showed the plane skidding down the highway, knocking over several streetlights.
It’s not clear what may have caused the plane to crash. Officials noted that a call was made around 9:55 p.m. Tuesday about the plane’s having “mechanical issues,” but they did not elaborate.
The FBI is on the site, Baeza said, and other federal agencies will arrive to investigate. Investigators also asked anyone who may have video or dashcam video of the crash to come forward.
It was the third significant aviation accident in as many days. A B-52 crashed Monday during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California, killing all eight people aboard.
On Sunday, 12 people were killed when a plane on a skydiving outing in Missouri crashed.
