COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – The victims of Friday’s fiery fatal jet crash along Interstate 75 near Naples were identified by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday afternoon.
Five people were onboard the jet when it crashed, according to the Florida Aviation Administration.
The two victims who died were pilot Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park, along with second in command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach, CCSO officials announced on social media Saturday.
The people who survived are crew member Sydney Ann Bosmans, 23, of Jupiter, as well as passengers Aaron Baker, 35, and Audra Green, 23, both of Columbus, Ohio, authorities confirmed.
The five people were in The Bombardier Challenger 604 when it departed from Ohio State University’s airport in Columbus for Naples, according to the FAA.
Murphy was trying to land at the Naples airport when there was an emergency, according to a recording of his communication with an airport controller.
“Hop-A-Jet 823, lost both engines, emergency. I’m making an emergency landing. We’re clear to land but we’re not going to make the runway. We’ve lost both engines,” Murphy told the controller before the crash at about 3:15 p.m., on the southbound lanes of I-75.
Local 10 News obtained video from good Samaritan Kyle Cavaliere showing the aftermath of the fiery crash that sent plumes of black smoke into the sky as three survivors walked away claiming both pilots were still inside.
NTSB reported an investigator arrived at the site on Friday and several more were going to arrive on Saturday to “document the scene and examine the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.”
The plane is registered to Fort Lauderdale-based East Shore Aviation LLC, according to the FAA. Fort Lauderdale-based Hop-a-Jet lists it as part of the charter company’s fleet.
A Local 10 News was at the crash scene Saturday evening where the charred jet suspended in the air as crews worked to remove the aircraft from the highway.
Debris remained scattered as charred marks could be seen along the barrier wall of the highway.
Federal authorities said a preliminary report about the cause of the crash can be expected in 30 days.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis released a statement on Sunday morning regarding the fatal plane crash:
“I would like to extend my condolences to the families and friends of Edward Daniel Murphy and Ian Frederick Hofmann who were piloting the small plane that crashed near Naples on Friday afternoon. The ultimate destination of the plane was Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, where the plane’s operator is located. I know the corporate family at Hop-A-Jet Worldwide Charter is also grieving for the loss of their employees and send my thoughts and prayers to them as well.”
Chris Hofmann, Ian Hofmann’s son, released a statement to Local 10 News following his father’s passing, which you can read here:
“The family is in shock and devastated but want to express our thanks for the heartfelt support we have received. We know our father died a hero doing his best to save everyone he could on the plane. We ask for prayers during this difficult time.”
Chris Hofmann has also created a GoFundMe account to honor his father’s memory.
He wrote on the GoFundMe page that his father was “the ultimate professional pilot with over 40 years and 25,000 hours of experience at Piedmont, USAirways, Virgin America and Hopajet.”
Chris Hofmann also wrote on the GoFundMe page that his father “tried to save the passengers and crew in the face of a desperate emergency of losing both engines at low altitude” and that “is how they will always remember him.”
Click here if you would like to help donate.