![]()
Photo credit to @jobaerobinsonA Bombardier Challenger 604 (N823KD) crashed on a Florida interstate Friday afternoon, catching fire and killing at least two people.
The FAA issued a statement, confirming that the plane crashed on I-75 near Naples, Florida at about 3:15 p.m. with five people on board. Naples Daily News reports that the people on board were from The Ohio State University's airport. The plane collided with at least one vehicle. The Collier County Sheriff's Office confirmed two people died.UPDATE: The deceased were identifed as 50-year-old pilot Edward Daniel Murphy of Oakland Park, Florida and 65-year-old copilot Ian Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach.
Three people survived the crash, identified as 27-year-old crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans of Jupiter, Florida, and passengers, 35-year-old Aaron Baker and 23-year-old Audra Green, both of Columbus, Ohio, who were treated for injuries.
Hoffman's family provided local media with a statement.
"His last moments, calmly speaking with ATC as he tried to save the passengers and crew in the face of a desperate emergency of losing both engines at low altitude, is how we will always remember him," it stated in part.
Other local news reports share the story of a driver who witnessed the crash, a former paramedic who transported the survivors away from the aircraft before it erupted in a fireball.
NBC 2 Collier County reported that in audio from Air Traffic Control the pilot can be heard calling an emergency, stating the plane had lost both engines two miles from the Naples Municipal Airport (APF) before saying they would not be able to make it. Robin King, director of communication with the Naples Airport Authority told Naples Daily News the airport lost communication with the plane before the crash.
Data from FlightAware shows that the jet departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) around 9:35 a.m. Friday morning, arriving at the Ohio State University Airport (OSU) just before noon. It departed there around 1 p.m. and was scheduled to land at Naples Municipal Airport (APF) at 3:12 p.m. before returning to FXE, according to the site's activity log for the aircraft.University officials confirmed to Fort Meyers, Florida TV station WINK that the aircraft was a charter jet but said the flight was not affiliated with the university.
The plane caught fire after landing and firetrucks sprayed the flames with a special foam to control the spread. The southbound highway was closed Friday evening as federal investigators responded to the crash scene.