Tragic Collision: Small Plane and Vehicle Engulfed in Flames on I-75 near Naples, Florida

NAPLES, Florida – A small airplane collided with a vehicle near a highway exit in Collier County, Florida, causing a fiery debris field and shutting down Interstate 75. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that five people were on board the plane. Tragically, at least two people are dead, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Department.

The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600, was traveling from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio to the Naples, Florida airport, with a final destination of Fort Lauderdale. According to the director of communication with the Naples Airport Authority, the airport lost communication with the plane just before it crashed around 3:10 p.m.

It’s believed that the plane was coming in for a landing when it possibly lost an engine, although this has not been confirmed. The crash occurred at 3:12 p.m., and the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the crash was an accident.

Emergency services responded to the incident, with Naples Airport dispatching firetrucks equipped to handle jet fuel fires. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported that at least two vehicles were involved in the collision and that there were closures to both north and southbound traffic on I-75.

The FAA and NTSB will be conducting an investigation into the crash, seeking to determine the cause of this tragic accident. As of now, the identity of the passengers and the specific circumstances of the crash have not been publicly disclosed. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.