1 Dead, Others Hurt After Vince Neil’s Private Jet Veers Off Runway in Scottsdale
At least one person is dead after a tragic collision involving two jets at Scottsdale Municipal Airport on Monday afternoon. One of the aircraft, a Learjet 35A, was owned by rock star Vince Neil, though he was not on board at the time of the crash.
According to the FAA, the Learjet 35A veered off the runway after landing and crashed into a parked Gulfstream G-200 business jet near Scottsdale and Thunderbird roads around 2:45 p.m. Airport officials believe that a failure of the left main landing gear during landing led to the collision.
When emergency crews arrived, they found one person deceased, trapped inside the plane. The victim remained inside the wreckage until crews were able to extricate them later that night. Several others sustained injuries, including Neil’s girlfriend and her friend, both of whom are expected to survive. The co-pilot was also injured, while a fifth person refused medical treatment.
Mötley Crüe initially posted a statement on Facebook, which was later deleted, stating that the Learjet 35A’s pilot had died. The band later replaced the post with an updated statement provided by Neil’s representative.
Bret Michaels, frontman of Poison and a close friend of Neil, expressed his condolences on Facebook, saying, “I was relieved to hear that my friend Vince Neil was not on board at the time of the incident… I often fly out from this Scottsdale Airpark location, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all involved.”
Neil’s attorney also released a statement, saying, “Mr. Neil’s thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and he is grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today.”
Jet Pros, the owner of the Gulfstream G-200, confirmed that the fifth person was on board their aircraft but was unharmed. A spokesperson for the company expressed condolences, stating, “Our condolences go out to the family members of those affected by this terrible accident. We are cooperating fully with airport authorities and relevant agencies as they conduct a thorough review of the situation. We appreciate the swift response of airport personnel and will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Firefighters responding to the crash site reported the strong smell of fuel upon arrival, further complicating the rescue and investigation efforts.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.
