Investigation underway after plane crash in Naples claims the lives of two on a US highway

Air is filled with smoke and flames following plane crash on Interstate 75 close to Naples, Florida

A jet from the Bombardier Challenger 600 series has collided on the I-75 highway in the U.S. state of Florida.

A private passenger jet crash-landed on a busy highway in Florida, resulting in a fiery accident that claimed two lives, according to authorities and eyewitnesses.

Shortly before the crash on Friday, the pilot, with five people on board, calmly informed an airport controller that the aircraft wouldn't be able to reach the runway as it had lost both engines. The jet was en route to Naples airport and attempted an emergency landing on Interstate 75. Witnesses reported a collision with a vehicle, with the plane's wing dragging a car before hitting a wall. An ensuing explosion led to flames and black smoke.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two fatalities, though it wasn't immediately clear whether the victims were passengers on the plane or individuals on the ground.

Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash near Naples, just north of the point where the interstate heads east toward Fort Lauderdale, known as Alligator Alley.

The plane had departed from The Ohio State University airport in Columbus, Ohio, around 1 pm. Scheduled to land in Naples at the time of the crash, the pilot contacted the tower for an emergency landing.

In audio obtained by The Associated Press, the air traffic controller responded to the pilot, granting clearance for an emergency landing on runway two-three. The pilot calmly conveyed the loss of both engines, stating, "We’re clear to land, but we’re not gonna make the runway. We’ve lost both engines."

Source: Al- Jazeera