Edward Daniel Murphy : "Fatal Private Jet Crash: Pilot's Last Words, Engine Failure, 2 Dead"

– Long-tailed: “private jet crashed onto Florida interstate”
– Long-tailed: “pilot said before private jet crashed”.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

A pilot and co-pilot tragically lost their lives in a plane crash on a Florida highway, according to law enforcement officials. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as 50-year-old pilot Edward Daniel Murphy and 65-year-old co-pilot Ian Frederick Hofmann. The crash also left three survivors, including crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, and passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, all from Columbus, Ohio. The survivors were rushed to a local hospital for treatment, and their current conditions are unknown.

Prior to the incident, the pilot calmly informed an airport controller that the aircraft “was not going to make the runway” due to a loss of both engines. The private jet, carrying five individuals, was en route to Naples Airport when it attempted an emergency landing on Interstate 75 on Friday afternoon. However, eyewitnesses reported that the plane collided with a vehicle, dragging it along with its wing before crashing into a wall. The impact resulted in a massive explosion, with flames and black smoke billowing from the scene.

Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in the crash, as confirmed by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, which occurred near Naples, just north of the point where the interstate heads east towards Fort Lauderdale, known as Alligator Alley.

The ill-fated plane had departed from Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, around 1 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Naples at the time of the crash. The pilot had contacted the tower, requesting an emergency landing due to the engine failure. Audio obtained by The Associated Press captured the air traffic controller granting clearance for the emergency landing. However, the pilot calmly responded, stating, “We’re clear to land, but we’re not gonna make the runway. We’ve lost both engines.”

Following this communication, the tower lost contact with the aircraft, and airport workers soon noticed the smoke rising from the interstate, a few miles away from the airport. Robin King, spokesperson for the Naples Airport Authority, revealed that fire trucks equipped with special foam were dispatched to the crash site. Remarkably, three out of the five individuals on board were rescued from the wreckage alive.

Eyewitness Brianna Walker recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the crash. She witnessed the plane’s wing colliding with the car in front of hers, causing it to pulverize before hitting the wall. Walker and her friend managed to spot the descending plane just in time, allowing them to pull over before the catastrophic event. She described how the plane narrowly missed their car, taking a sharp right turn and skidding across the highway.

According to the FlightAware aircraft tracker, the ill-fated plane was operated by Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The aircraft was scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale later that afternoon.

In response to the incident, Hop-a-Jet issued a statement expressing their immediate concern for the well-being of the passengers, crew members, and their families. The Naples Daily News reported that the company confirmed the accident involving one of their leased aircraft near Naples and stated that a team would be sent to the crash site. However, the statement did not provide specific details about the crash.

Ohio State University clarified that the aircraft involved was not affiliated with the university, and they had no further information regarding the incident. Federal authorities have announced that a preliminary report on the cause of the crash is expected within 30 days.

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This article was reported by a journalist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.