Scottsdale Airport has been forced to shut after a private jet “skid off the runway” and smashed into a second plane reportedly killing at least one person.
Emergency services are at the Arizona airport following the incident which happened at around 2.45pm local time after two multi-million dollar private jets collided. According to local media, two other people have been rushed to hospital, while one was being treated at the scene. Video from the scene showed a plane on the ground with multiple ambulances and fire engines.
“An accident has occurred upon arrival to runway 21,” the airport said. “Fire Department is on scene assessing the situation. Scottsdale Airports runway is currently closed.” The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident: “A Learjet 35A veered off the runway after landing and crashed into a Gulfstream 200 business jet on the ramp at Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Arizona around 2:45 p.m. local time Monday, Feb. 10. We do not know how many people were on board. The FAA is temporarily pausing flights into the airport.”
It comes after a small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska on its way to the hub community of Nome was located Friday on sea ice, and all 10 people on board were dead, authorities said. The crash was one of the deadliest in the state in the last 25 years.
Rescuers were searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter when the wreckage was spotted, said Mike Salerno, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. Two rescue swimmers were lowered to investigate. “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss,” U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said during a news conference.
Nome Mayor John Handeland choked up as he discussed the deaths and the response effort. “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident,” Handeland said.
The Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane was travelling from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot, Alaska’s Department of Public Safety said. It was operating at its maximum passenger capacity, according to the airline’s description of the plane.
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