Private plane crashes in Dominican Republic, killing pilot and co-pilot

A private plane crashed and burst into flames Sunday afternoon while trying to land at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. Local media reported the aircraft had declared an emergency. The pilot and co-pilot died in the crash.

Videos circulating on social media and published by Dominican news outlets captured the exact moment of the crash. The aircraft, a GALX model with U.S. registration N318JF, had arrived from Puerto Rico. After refueling, it was preparing to continue its journey to Houston, Texas.

However, the pilot requested an emergency landing due to a malfunction when the flight was 16 nautical miles from La Romana, according to Listín Diario. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) confirmed it is investigating the incident with the Air Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA).

The videos show the aircraft hitting the ground on unpaved terrain, far from the runway. Without the landing gear deployed, the plane skidded across the grass, its fuselage broke apart, and the fuel ignited. Emergency services, including firefighters and an ambulance, responded quickly, but the intense flames and smoke hampered efforts to reach the cockpit.

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The aircraft of American registration, registered in the name of an executive aviation company, had its two crew members on board, the pilot and co-pilot. No passengers were reported.