1 dead after Vince Neil's plane crashes into another jet at Scottsdale, Arizona, airport
One person was killed and at least three others were injured in Scottsdale, Arizona, after a business jet — owned by Vince Neil of the band Mötley Crüe — crashed into another plane as it landed on Monday.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Learjet 35A veered off the runway as it arrived at Scottsdale Municipal Airport around 2:45 p.m. It hit a Gulfstream 200 business jet that was parked on private property, officials said at a news conference.
Neil was not onboard the plane, which had departed from Austin, Texas, according to the singer's spokesperson.
A statement posted to social media by Mötley Crüe said the person killed was one of the two pilots. Scottsdale police on Tuesday identified him as 78-year-old Joie Vitosky. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death, police said.
Neil's girlfriend and a friend of hers were both on board and were injured, according to the band's statement. However, that post was taken down and replaced with a statement that did not identify any of the passengers or specify who had been killed or injured.
"More specific details regarding the collision are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation," the updated statement said. "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."
An airport spokesperson said the left main gear of the small jet failed at landing, which possibly led to the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be taking over the investigation.
The PGA Tour's Phoenix Open was held over the weekend in Scottsdale. It is typically one of the busiest times of year for the airport.
There are no commercial flights or airline service at the airport, according to its website, but it is home to many of the region's corporate aircraft.
