The twin-engine 1979 Cessna Citation 550 business jet had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and was attempting to land when its plane crashed around 4:15 a.m. local time.
A plane crash occurred early Saturday morning near the French Valley Airport in Murrieta, Southern California, resulting in the loss of all six individuals on board
The plane crash led to a small brush fire, which consumed approximately one acre of vegetation before being brought under control.
According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Elliot Simpson, the plane went down about 500 feet before reaching the runway due to poor visibility caused by adverse weather conditions. Simpson explained that the pilot had reported to air traffic control their intention to perform a missed approach, indicating difficulty in spotting the runway environment. It is worth noting that the aircraft had successfully landed at French Valley Airport on previous occasions.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced that all six victims in the plane crash, whose identities have not been disclosed, were pronounced dead at the crash site
Authorities have confirmed that they were all adults in the plane crash. The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration are currently conducting investigations into the incident, with a preliminary report expected to be released within two weeks.
This unfortunate event marks the second plane crash in the vicinity within a week. Just a few days prior, another Cessna plane crash near the French Valley Airport, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to three others. The deceased individual has been identified as 39-year-old Jared Newman, a resident of Temecula and the father of the surviving passengers of the plane crash. It has been reported that Newman was operating the aircraft under a training license, a violation of federal regulations.