Overview
- A charter Gulfstream G200 with registration N318JF crashed while attempting an emergency return to La Romana International Airport after takeoff on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
- The aircraft was flying a charter route to Austin, Texas and is reported to be linked to Aibonito Aviation of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Crew radioed a loss of power in one engine and requested to return to the airport before the jet came down on or near the runway.
- Emergency teams fought a large fire that produced heavy black smoke, secured the scene and confirmed two U.S. crew members — identified as Erick Javier Diago and Rudy Ghazal — were the only occupants and died in the accident.
- The Instituto Dominicano de Aviación Civil and the Comisión Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación have launched an active investigation that will review cockpit communications, air traffic recordings, wreckage and maintenance logs, and the outcome could affect regional private-flight oversight and airport procedures.