Florida plane crash victims identified as pilot Edward Murphy and co-pilot Ian Hoffman after flight collided with traffic on Naples highway resulting in fiery wreckage

• Pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, died in the plane crash on I-75 outside Naples from yesterday
• Survivors include crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23

By Ishita Srivastava For Dailymail.Com[1]

Published: 21:47, 10 February 2024 | Updated: 22:40, 10 February 2024

Police officials have identified the two people who died and survivors of the plane crash that happened on a Florida[2] highway yesterday.

A Bombardier Challenger 60 plane crashed onto the I-75 outside Naples [3]at 3.15pm on Friday afternoon – leaving two dead and three survivors.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has named Pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, as victims of the crash.

Officials clarified that Murphy was from Oakland Park, Florida, and Hofmann came from Pompano Beach, Florida.

Survivors include crew member Sydney[4] Ann Bosmans, 23, along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23.

While Bosmans was also from Florida, Baker and Green were from Columbus, Ohio.

All three of the survivors were taken to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The pilots reported dual engine failure right before the crash in a confronting mayday call to air traffic control.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has named Pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, and second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, (pictured) as victims of the crash

Survivors include crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, along with passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23

A private plane has crashed into cars on a major highway, causing a massive explosion and killing two of the five people on board

Hours after the crash, disturbing air traffic control audio moments before the crash filled with utter panic also emerged.

The plane was just one minute away from making an emergency landing at Naples Airport – but another moment of audio reveals how its pilot already knew they would not make it.

‘OK, Challenger, Hop-A-Jet 823, lost both engines, emergency. I’m making an emergency landing,’ the pilot said.

Air traffic control told colleagues he had an emergency and informed the pilot he was clear to land runway 23.

But the pilot responded: ‘We’re clear to land but we’re not gonna make the runway. We’ve lost both engines.’

Agonizing seconds of silence go by before a moment of sheer, unintelligible panic breaks through from the pilot.

Air traffic control radios back, but it is already too late.

The next broadcast is another controller warning there was an emergency in progress.

‘Everybody stand by, there’s an emergency in progress, everybody stand by,’ she said.

Video footage captured by drivers show the aftermath of the accident, revealing burning flames emanating from the plane as a brave bystander is seen rushing toward the smoke

The plane, a Bombardier Challenger 600 with a capacity for up to 14 people, reportedly lost an engine before the massive crash

Seconds later, a rescue helicopter requests clearance and is immediately granted.

The plane hit the ground just 4.7 miles short of the airport.

Dramatic photos and video taken by passing motorists showed the burning wreck and pieces of wreckage strewn across the highway.

One video showed an explosion rock the burning plane, and seconds later its charred left wing fell off.

A least one brave motorist was seen rushing toward the downed plane, hoping to assist survivors despite the extreme danger.

The flight was traveling to Naples Airport from Ohio[5] State University Airport, according to FlightAware data, although the college says the plane merely used its facilities and did not have a connection to the university itself.

The plane belonged to Hop-a-Jet, a Florida-based private chartering company, and was not related to the university.

A least one brave motorist was seen rushing toward the downed plane, hoping to assist survivors despite the extreme danger

Both lanes of traffic on the highway were shut down for four hours, and traffic on the southbound lane will be closed for at least 24 hours

The company said it ‘received confirmed reports of an accident involving one of our leased aircraft near Naples’ and that it would send a team to the crash site.

‘Our immediate concern is for the well-being of our passengers, crew members, and their families,’ it said.

The Federal Aviation Authority closed all southbound lanes for 24 hours while it investigated the crash.

One FAA investigator was already on the scene with more to arrive over the weekend.

A preliminary report was due in 30 days.

Police and emergency responders flooded the scene and state troopers only opened the northbound land four hours after the accident.

References

1. ^ Ishita Srivastava For Dailymail.Com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Florida (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ crashed onto the I-75 outside Naples (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ Sydney (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Ohio (www.dailymail.co.uk)