Two pilots were killed when a Gulfstream G200 business jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic on Sunday evening, June 7.
The aircraft, registered N318JF and operated by Aibonito Aviation LLC, had departed La Romana at approximately 19:30 UTC on a positioning flight to Austin, Texas. Shortly after take-off, the crew reported an in-flight emergency, reportedly involving one of the aircraft’s engines, and requested to return to the airport.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft remained in the vicinity of La Romana while the crew prepared for an emergency landing. During the landing attempt on runway 29, the jet reportedly veered off the runway, with its landing gear collapsing as it crossed the grass alongside the runway.
Video footage circulating on social media appears to show the aircraft sliding out of control before the left engine separated from the airframe. The jet then erupted into flames after striking airfield infrastructure, producing a large fireball visible from the airport perimeter.
The Gulfstream G200 was destroyed in the accident. The two pilots, the only occupants on board, sustained fatal injuries.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Initial information suggests the crew may have been dealing with an engine-related emergency before returning to La Romana.