Collier County Sheriff’s Office says both pilots died after a Challenger 604 business jet with a dual engine failure collided with a car during a landing attempt on Interstate 75 in Naples, Florida, Friday. Capt. Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park, and FO Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach, were killed when the big bizjet touched down on the southbound lanes of the freeway, veering onto the grass and dragging a car with it. The 23-year-old flight attendant Sydney Ann Bosman, of Jupiter, as well as passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, both of Columbus, Ohio, were all injured but their conditions have not been released. Dash cam video of the mishap has been circulated on social media.
A transcript of the last ATC exchange suggests the aircraft suddenly lost power. Pilot: “Okay, Challenger, Hop-A-Jet 823, lost both engines, emergency. I’m making an emergency landing.” Controller: “I’ve got an emergency. Clear to land Runway 23.” Pilot: “We’re clear to land but we’re not gonna make the runway. We’ve lost both engines.” The plane appears to have landed intact but was mostly consumed by fire. Video above is from NBC News.
The flight originated at Ohio State University Airport in Columbus. Hop-A-Jet is a charter based in Fort Lauderdale and operates four Challengers, including the crash airplane, and a Learjet 60. The accident took place about 5 miles from the airport on the normal pattern for a landing on Runway 23. The plane took off about 12:30 and the accident occurred about 3:10 local time.
