SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A tragic incident occurred at the Scottsdale Airport on Monday afternoon, resulting in one fatality and several injuries when a private jet owned by rock musician Vince Neil collided with another aircraft. Reports indicate that Neil’s plane was in the process of landing when it unexpectedly veered off the runway and struck a parked jet. At the time of the incident, Neil was not on board his aircraft, according to his representative, Worrick Robinson, IV.
Robinson expressed that Neil extends his thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the accident, appreciating the urgent assistance provided by first responders. The collision happened when the incoming jet, which had arrived from Austin, Texas, lost control and crashed into a stationary Gulfstream 200 jet situated on private property. Kelli Kuester, the aviation planning and outreach coordinator for the airport, commented that it seemed the left main landing gear of the arriving jet had malfunctioned, resulting in the unfortunate event.
According to sources, there were a total of four individuals aboard the jet that was landing, while one person was present in the parked Gulfstream. Two passengers sustained injuries and were transported to trauma centers, with one reportedly in stable condition. Scottsdale Fire Department Captain Dave Folio mentioned ongoing efforts to recover the victim who lost their life in the collision. He shared, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everybody involved in this.”
Due to the incident, the runway at Scottsdale Airport has been closed and will remain out of service “for the foreseeable future,” stated Kuester. Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky has been actively monitoring the situation and is in communication with airport officials, law enforcement, and federal agencies. She expressed her condolences on behalf of the city of Scottsdale to those impacted by the accident and noted that prayers are with those receiving treatment at local trauma centers.
The Scottsdale Airport serves as a significant hub for private jets in the Phoenix area, particularly during high-traffic sporting events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament, which draws large crowds nearby.
This incident follows a disturbing trend in U.S. aviation safety, with three significant accidents reported in the last two weeks. Notably, a collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital resulted in 67 fatalities, and a medical transportation crash in Philadelphia led to the deaths of six individuals onboard as well as another person on the ground. Additionally, last week, a commuter plane going to Nome, Alaska, tragically crashed, claiming the lives of all ten individuals aboard.
