Gulfstream G200 Declares Mechanical Emergency, Crashes on Return to La Romana Airport, Killing Both Pilots

A Gulfstream G200 jet with registration N318JF crashed and burst into flames while attempting an emergency landing at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. The aircraft had taken off from the airport and was about 16 nautical miles southwest when it declared an emergency due to severe mechanical problems and turned back. It was en route to Austin, Texas.

Footage shows the jet scraping along the runway on its rear wheels before bouncing and erupting into a fireball. The pilot and co-pilot were killed. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation stated that the aircraft was registered to an executive aviation company and had two crew members on board.

No passengers were reported on the aircraft. Emergency services responded to the crash and firefighters extinguished the blaze. Airport operations were cancelled following the incident. Aviation records show the jet belonged to Aibonito Aviation LLC, a private aviation company based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The aircraft was manufactured in 2004 by Israel Aircraft Industries. Dominican newspaper El Dia identified the pilots as American nationals Erick Javier Diago and Rudy Ghazal. The IDAC has not released the names of those killed.

The IDAC said authorities activated protocols and are conducting on-site investigations to determine the cause. Both the IDAC and the CIAA will provide additional information as the process continues. The G200 has capacity for up to 18 passengers, though only the two crew members were on board.