Two pilots killed in Gulfstream G200 crash at La Romana

Two American pilots were killed on Sunday when a private jet crashed and caught fire while attempting an emergency landing at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft, a U.S.-registered Gulfstream G200 business jet, was carrying only the pilot and copilot, with no passengers on board.

The flight had departed from La Romana bound for Austin, Texas, when the crew declared an inflight emergency approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of the airport due to severe technical problems. The pilots turned the aircraft back toward the airport for an emergency landing. During the landing attempt, the jet crashed on the runway and immediately burst into flames, triggering a massive explosion.

Video footage shared on social media shows the aircraft engulfed in fire during the landing, with thick black smoke billowing from the scene. Airport firefighting teams responded immediately, but both crew members sustained fatal injuries. Authorities confirmed no injuries were reported on the ground.

The Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) and the Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of...