La Romana, Dominican Republic, A posh private Gulfstream G200 slammed onto the runway and burst into a massive orange fireball Sunday as it tried to make an emergency landing, killing both American pilots in a blazing inferno captured on shaky video by terrified bystanders.
The U.S.-registered jet, N318JF, had just taken off from La Romana International Airport bound for Austin, Texas, when the crew reported a serious technical malfunction, possibly an engine or hydraulic failure, about 16 nautical miles southwest of the field.
The two-man crew radioed for help and turned back for an emergency return. But things went horribly wrong on the final approach to Runway 29.
Dramatic cellphone footage shows the sleek business jet touching down hard, skidding violently off the pavement, kicking up clouds of dust and debris before erupting in a raging fireball that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but it was too late.
Both pilots, identified as U.S. citizens Erick Javier Diago and Rudy Ghazal, were killed. There were no passengers on board. The aircraft, a 2004 Gulfstream operated by Aibonito Aviation out of Puerto Rico, was completely destroyed.
The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) confirmed the fatalities and launched a full investigation into the cause.
Tragedy struck just as the jet was reportedly heading to Texas to pick up former Major League Baseball star catcher Yadier Molina, his family, and friends for a return trip to Puerto Rico. Molina later shared heartbreaking details online, offering condolences to the pilots’ families while expressing relief that no one else was aboard.
Witnesses described the chaos as bystanders on the tarmac filmed the horror unfolding. One angle shows the jet already engulfed in flames as the shaky camera tries to capture the disaster.
Aviation experts said emergency returns after takeoff are among the most dangerous maneuvers, especially with potential mechanical issues. The Gulfstream G200 is generally considered a reliable mid-size business jet, but failures under pressure can turn deadly fast.
No one on the ground was hurt, and firefighters quickly contained the blaze.
