Gulfstream G200 Crash Claims Two in Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) and the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) are investigating the fatal crash of a Gulfstream G200, which went down yesterday while attempting to make an emergency return to La Romana International Airport (MDLR). Both pilots—the only people onboard—were killed in the accident.

With a scheduled destination of Texas’ Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the twinjet—N318JF, registered to Puerto Rico-based Aibonito Aviation—took off around 3:30 p.m. local time and soon after the flight crew declared an in-flight emergency and attempted to return to the airport. According to reports, after what appeared to be a landing attempt on Runway 11, five minutes after takeoff, the aircraft circled and then lined up on Runway 29.

Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left, and the landing gear collapsed as it departed the runway. Video from the scene shows the stricken jet skidding across the grass at a high rate of speed, hitting a ditch, bouncing up in the air, and shedding the left engine. It then erupted into a fireball as it collided with a runway sign.