Heart-stopping moment survivors of fatal plane crash sprint from burning jet
Horrifying footage shows survivors sprinting from the burning wreckage of a plane crash.
The jet burst into flames after crashing into a Florida highway on February 9.
Three of the five people on board can be seen fleeing the wreckage in the video, which was shot by a passing motorist who rushed to help.
Warning: distressing content
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The motorist, Kyle Cavaliere, can be heard shouting to the fleeing survivors: “Is there anybody else in there?”
A woman be heard yelling in reply: “Yes! Our pilots! Our pilots!”
She was then asked if the pilots were still alive, and replied frantically: “I don’t know. I don’t know much else.”
Pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, and co-pilot Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, were both killed in the crash, Collier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Crew Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, and passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, have all been rushed to hospital.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600 jet, had been travelling to Naples Airport when it suddenly lost both of its engines.
Harrowing audio of the flight's final moments shows pilot Murphy calmly informing air traffic control that the plane was not going to 'make the runway'.
In the audio, an air traffic controller can be heard saying: “Got that. Emergency. Clear to land. Runway. Two. Three."
But Murphy then can be heard to say: “We’re clear to land, but we’re not gonna make the runway. We’ve lost both engines."
The pilots had attempted to land the aircraft on the nearby I-75 highway, but the landing did not succeed and the plane caught fire after it crashed.
Eyewitnesses described how the plane had clipped a car as it came in to land, dragging the vehicle along before slamming into wall and exploding into flames.
The aircraft had taken off from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio at around 1.00pm.
It had been scheduled to land in Naples, Florida, Naples Airport Authority spokesperson Robin King confirmed.
Murphy had contacted the airport's tower just as the plane was scheduled to land requesting an emergency landing.
The plane was being operated by Hop-a-Jet Worldwide Charter, which is based in Fort Lauderdale, and had been due to fly back to Fort Lauderdale on Friday afternoon.
Ohio State University has confirmed in a statement that the plane is not affiliated with the university.
An investigation has been opened into the crash, and federal authorities have indicated that a preliminary report is expected to be published in around 30 days.
Kit Roberts