LPD asks public for photos, video after fatal Loop 20 plane crash

Laredo police are asking the public to submit photos, videos and dashcam footage from the fatal Loop 20 plane crash as investigators continue to piece together what happened near Laredo International Airport.

The Laredo Police Department said it has opened a public evidence-submission portal for crash-related material. Police said eyewitness images and recordings could help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the impact.

Joe Baeza, the department's public information officer, said police are still gathering material from the scene and from people who were nearby when the aircraft came down.

Crash timeline

The crash happened late Tuesday night near the Clark Boulevard exit on Loop 20 in Laredo. Reporting from the Laredo Morning Times said the aircraft had reported mechanical problems before trying to divert to Laredo International Airport.

According to airport reporting cited by The Guardian, air traffic control received notice of mechanical difficulty and an emergency declaration shortly before the crash. The plane then went down on the highway while attempting to reach the airport.

The wreck ignited a fire and brought a large emergency response to the scene. Reporting also said the aircraft struck a vehicle on Loop 20.

Casualties and injuries

Officials have confirmed one death aboard the aircraft. Reporting from the Laredo Morning Times said five other people on board survived and were in stable condition.

The motorist whose vehicle was struck was hospitalized in stable condition, according to the reporting in the packet. Five LPD officers who responded to the scene were also treated for smoke inhalation.

The crash closed off part of the roadway and affected airport access as crews worked the scene and investigators documented debris and impact evidence.

Investigators and evidence

The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the crash. Police said further updates will come through LPD social channels as the investigation develops.

Reporting identifies the aircraft as a privately owned business jet operated by NetJets. The exact cause of the emergency remains unresolved.

That is why police are asking the public to help. Investigators want photos, video and dashcam footage that could show the aircraft's path, the fire, traffic conditions or the moments immediately before and after the crash.

The material could also help investigators compare witness accounts with physical evidence collected from the scene.

What happens next

LPD said it will continue collecting submissions while federal investigators document the crash site and review the available evidence.

The next phase of the inquiry is expected to focus on the reported mechanical problem, the emergency diversion attempt and how the final seconds of the flight unfolded before the aircraft hit the highway.

For now, police say the public evidence portal remains one of the best ways for people with relevant images or recordings to assist the investigation.