Three Killed in Business Jet Crash Near Lansing, Michigan
LANSING, MI — A private business jet crashed into woods near Lansing on Thursday, resulting in three fatalities.
The Mexican-registered Hawker 800XP was on a test flight after maintenance when it lost altitude abruptly around 5:28 p.m. Authorities reported that audio recordings captured one pilot calling for “stall recovery” before the aircraft plunged rapidly.
Witnesses observed the jet spiraling down before it disappeared from sight, followed by a large black plume of smoke. First responders from local agencies arrived on scene but confirmed that all three individuals on board—two pilots and a maintenance representative—had died.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the incident. Initial tracking data indicated that the jet had taken off from Battle Creek Executive Airport at 5:08 p.m., reaching an altitude of 15,000 feet before its descent.
This crash follows a similar incident in February 2024, when two pilots were killed during a test flight for a Hawker jet after maintenance. A preliminary report from the NTSB on that crash has been released, but a final report is pending.
Duncan Aviation, the company responsible for the plane's maintenance, expressed condolences and stated its current focus is on supporting affected families.
The incident is under investigation, with no further details available at this time.