A small business jet carrying six people crashed onto a highway in South Texas on Tuesday evening, killing one person and injuring several others, authorities said.

The aircraft went down on Laredo’s Loop 20 highway, causing a major fire and forcing the closure of traffic in both directions as debris was scattered across multiple lanes. Emergency crews, assisted by bystanders, worked to pull passengers from the burning wreckage.

Laredo Police Public Information Officer Jose Baeza said one person died in the crash, while the remaining passengers were transported to hospital for treatment.

Video from the scene showed first responders and civilians attempting to break open the aircraft’s windshield to rescue those trapped inside. Several passengers were seen walking away from the wreckage after escaping the burning jet.

The aircraft was identified as a NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Latitude business jet that had departed San José del Cabo, Mexico, at approximately 6:18 p.m. local time. It was en route to Austin, Texas, before diverting toward Laredo near the US-Mexico border, according to flight tracking data.

Authorities said emergency services were alerted shortly before 10 p.m. after the aircraft reportedly experienced mechanical issues. The pilot lost contact with air traffic control prior to the crash, and the jet struck a moving vehicle as it descended toward the highway.

Flight tracking data indicated a steady descent toward Laredo International Airport before the signal was lost at around 600 feet altitude, approximately 2.5 miles short of the runway at about 9:58 p.m. local time. (ILKHA)