A private jet accident in Argentina has claimed the lives of two pilots after the aircraft veered off the runway during landing and ended in a fiery crash.
The £10 million Bombardier Challenger 300, which had no passengers onboard, overshot the landing strip at San Fernando Airport in Buenos Aires on December 18.
In a desperate attempt to mitigate the situation, the pilots managed to steer the jet away from the ILS localizer antenna located at the far end of the runway.
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However, the maneuver caused the aircraft to break through the airport’s perimeter fence and careen onto a nearby street lined with residential homes.
The crash was compounded by a collision with a tree, which tore off the left wing, igniting a fire that consumed the jet entirely.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, evacuating residents from nearby homes as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Despite their efforts, the pilots—who were the sole occupants—did not survive the crash. No other injuries were reported among residents in the area.
Preliminary reports suggest a possible braking system failure as the cause of the crash.
The jet, identified by its registration number LV-GOK, had flown earlier that day from Buenos Aires to Punta del Este, Uruguay, with passengers.
Its return to San Fernando was a repositioning flight, meaning it was not carrying passengers at the time of the accident.
A spokesperson for the Airport Security Police detailed the timeline, stating that at 1:23 PM, a report was received about an aircraft continuing past the runway and breaching the airport’s perimeter before crashing into nearby homes.
While investigations are underway, the tragedy highlights the devastating potential of aviation incidents near populated areas.
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SOURCE: Private jet careers off runway during landing killing two pilots
