A private jet operated by NetJets crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, late Tuesday night after reporting mechanical problems while traveling from Mexico to Austin, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
The aircraft, identified by officials as a Cessna 680A business jet, had departed from San José del Cabo, Mexico, and was headed to Austin, Texas, when the crew reported mechanical difficulties and attempted to divert to Laredo International Airport. The plane went down on Loop 20, several miles short of the airfield, at about 10 p.m. local time.
Laredo officials said six people were aboard the aircraft. One person was fatally injured, while the five remaining occupants were taken to local hospitals and reported to be in stable condition. A driver in a passenger vehicle struck during the crash was also taken to a hospital.
Authorities have not released the identity of the person who died, pending notification of next of kin.
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Video from the scene showed flames and wreckage on the highway as police, firefighters and bystanders worked to rescue people from the aircraft. Laredo officials said five police officers suffered smoke inhalation during the rescue effort and received treatment.
Laredo police said officers were alerted shortly before 10 p.m. after the airport control tower reported that an aircraft was in trouble and had lost communication. The plane was attempting an emergency diversion when it crashed onto the highway.
NetJets confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved and identified the plane by its tail number, N523QS. The company said its immediate concern was for the passengers, crew members and their families. NetJets also said it had activated crisis response and family support teams and was sending experts to the crash site.
NetJets is one of the world’s largest private aviation companies and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate led by Warren Buffett. The company said it would not speculate on the cause of the crash while investigators review the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened an investigation, with the NTSB leading the inquiry. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, flight data, communications with air traffic control, weather conditions, pilot actions and any available recordings or wreckage evidence.
The crash also created major traffic disruptions in Laredo. Officials closed parts of Loop 20 while emergency crews secured the area, documented the wreckage and worked to contain fuel and remove debris.
The incident is especially serious because the aircraft came down on a public highway and struck a vehicle. Aviation investigators will likely examine not only what caused the emergency, but also how the aircraft descended short of the airport and whether the crew had options for reaching the runway or another landing area.
For now, officials are urging the public not to speculate about the cause. Mechanical trouble was reported before the crash, but the final cause will not be known until the NTSB completes its investigation, a process that can take months or longer.
The crash left one family grieving, several people recovering and a Texas community shaken by a rare aviation accident that unfolded on a busy roadway.
Why It Matters
The crash matters because it involved a private business jet operated by a major aviation company and came down on a public highway, creating danger not only for those aboard but also for people on the ground.
It also raises questions about mechanical issues, emergency diversions and how quickly crews and first responders can act when an aircraft loses communication or cannot reach an airport safely.
What Comes Next
The NTSB will lead the investigation and is expected to collect wreckage evidence, review communications with air traffic control and examine the aircraft’s maintenance and flight history.
NetJets says it is cooperating with investigators and supporting those affected. Officials may release a preliminary report before the full investigation is complete.
A social media post showed footage from the scene after a NetJets aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing near Laredo International Airport.
BREAKING: A NetJets Cessna 680 Citation Latitude (N523QS) crashed on a highway while attempting an emergency landing near Laredo International Airport, Texas.
The aircraft had diverted to Laredo after declaring an emergency while en route from Los Cabos, Mexico, to Austin,… pic.twitter.com/BGDqZqdz9w
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 17, 2026
