2 dead after US-registered business jet explodes after failed landing attempt at Dominican Airport | Video

A private US-registered business jet crashed and exploded into a massive fireball at La Romana International Airport on Sunday, killing both crew members on board.

The Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) confirmed that the pilot and co-pilot were the sole occupants of the aircraft. No passengers were on board at the time of the disaster.

The aircraft, a Gulfstream G200 twin-engine business jet carrying the US registration N318JF, had originally taken off from La Romana, a popular tourist city located about 130 kilometres east of the capital, Santo Domingo, and was bound for Austin, Texas.

According to preliminary reports from aviation authorities, the flight crew declared an emergency due to severe mechanical malfunctions when the aircraft was approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of La Romana. The pilots immediately turned the aircraft around in an attempt to make it back to the airfield.

Eyewitness videos shared on social media show the plane attempting an emergency landing before disaster struck. The aircraft can be seen scraping along the runway at high speed before veering off into a grassy area beside the airfield.

Disclaimer: The following video contains distressing footage of an aircraft accident that some viewers may find upsetting. Viewer discretion advised. 

Ongoing – a private Gulfstream crashed attempting an emergency landing at La Romana International Airport, in the Dominican Republic. Two crew are confirmed dead.

“Two crew members died this Sunday when a private executive aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing…

— Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) June 7, 2026

As it slid across the ground, debris and dust were thrown into the air. The impact caused significant damage to the fuselage, and moments later the aircraft burst into flames. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Airport fire engines and emergency response teams rushed to the scene within moments of the impact, spraying water and foam to suppress the blaze. However, rescue officials confirmed that the impact and subsequent explosion left no chance of survival for the two pilots.

Dominican aviation authorities, alongside the Civil Aviation Board led by Director Héctor Porcella, have launched a formal, comprehensive investigation to determine the precise mechanical failures that led to the emergency landing attempt.