Story ID: 
Fatal U.S. Bizjet Accidents Climb Year-to-date
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: 24 people died in N-numbered bizjets in first nine months of 2023
Word Count: 223
Twenty-four people were killed in six accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets in the first nine months of this year versus zero such fatalities in all of 2022, according to data compiled by AIN. Meanwhile, five people were killed in two accidents involving non-U.S.-registered business jets in the first three quarters; that compares to three accidents and 14 fatalities in the first nine months of 2022.
The August 23 crash of an Embraer Legacy 600 in Russia that killed all 10 onboard was not included in our data because the suspicion of malfeasance persists in what downed the twinjet while at cruising altitude. In fact, Eric Schouten of Dyami Strategic Security Services told AIN that his team concluded that an air-to-air missile likely caused this crash.
All but one of the fatal accidents of U.S.-registered business jets were being conducted under Part 91. These accidents include a January 2 crash of an Embraer Phenom 300 in Provo, Utah, killing the pilot; March 3, Bombardier Challenger 300, one fatality; May 10, Bombardier Learjet 36A, three fatalities; June 4, Cessna Citation V, four fatalities; July 8, Citation II, six fatalities; and August 17, Beechcraft Premier 1, nine fatalities.
Meanwhile, a civilian German-registered Learjet 35A accident on May 4 killed both pilots. And the two pilots and passenger perished on in a July 28 crash of a Mexico-registered Citation.