With a sledgehammer and a shovel, volunteers raced to save passengers in Texas plane crash

Published
June 18, 2026
Outcome
Fatal
Location
Laredo, Texas
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Incident type
Aircraft, Fire

Summary

Vehicle Fire Laredo Texas in Laredo, Texas: A Cessna Citation Latitude twin jet crashed into a highway near Laredo, Texas, on the late Tuesday night of June 17, 2026. The aircraft broke in half and caught fire as it struck a truck and came to rest across a concrete barrier. One person was killed and several passengers and crew survived after volunteers used tools to break windows and firefighters entered the burning plane. The incident prompted praise for quick volunteer and police response that helped save lives.

Publicly reported parties

Name Role Status
Joshua Baer Driver Fatal
Unnamed Passenger Passenger Injured
Unnamed Pilot Driver Injured
Unnamed Motorist Driver Injured

Original reporting

With a sledgehammer and a shovel, volunteers raced to save passengers in Texas plane crash | WRIC ABC 8News

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