MESA, Ariz. — Tragically, five individuals lost their lives in a horrifying crash involving a small business jet close to a suburban airport in Phoenix, as revealed by officials on Wednesday.
Initial reports suggest that the six-seat HondaJet HA-420 was en route to Provo, Utah, when it aborted its takeoff at Falcon Field airport in Mesa on Tuesday afternoon. After failing to gain altitude, the aircraft smashed through the airport’s perimeter fence and subsequently collided with a vehicle traveling on a roadway west of the airport, according to authorities.
The cause of the aborted takeoff remains unclear at this time. The National Transportation Safety Board is spearheading the investigation, collaborating closely with the Federal Aviation Administration and local Mesa officials.
According to the Mesa police, four of the five passengers aboard the jet were found dead at the scene, while the pilot, whose name is not released, suffered serious burn injuries and was taken to the hospital.
Among those on the flight were 12-year-old Graham Kimball, along with his father, 44-year-old Drew Kimball. The other casualties included 48-year-old Rustin Randall and 43-year-old Spencer Lindahl, who were both described as managers of Ice Man Holdings LLC, a Mesa-based company.
The driver of the vehicle that the jet collided with also perished at the site of the incident. Authorities have withheld the individual’s identity pending proper identification processes.