Seven passengers and two crewmembers were killed yesterday evening when a 2002 Gulfstream IV-SP crashed shortly after takeoff while attempting a diversionary landing at Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport (MDSD) in the Dominican Republic. According to flight data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft—registered as HI1050—took off from Santo Domingo La Isabela International Airport (MDJB) at 5:07 p.m. local time on a charter flight headed to Florida and operated by Santo Domingo-based Helidosa Aviation Group.
However, the crew reportedly experienced an unspecified mechanical issue and diverted to MDSD. The twinjet crashed not far from MDSD at 5:22 p.m. and was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. FlightRadar24 data indicates that the GIV-SP was headed to Orlando International Airport, but Helidosa said the destination was Miami.
Among the seven passengers killed were Puerto Rican music producer Jose Hernandez, known as “Flow La Movie,” and his wife and child, according to Hernandez’s publicist. In a statement expressing sorrow for those who perished in the crash, Helidosa named the two flight crewmembers as Luis Alberto Eljuri and Victor Emilio Herrera.
Helidosa said it is cooperating with the Dominican Republic aviation authorities on their accident investigation.