A Cessna Citation jet met with a tragic fate as it reportedly crashed in the mountainous region of western Virginia.
The ill-fated flight started its day in Melbourne, Florida, and was destined for Elizabethton, Tennessee. Initial reports suggest that the aircraft successfully completed this leg of the journey without any reported issues, safely landing in Elizabethton.
Flight tracking data indicates that after departing from Elizabethton, the aircraft deviated from its planned route while en route to Long Island, New York. Instead of landing ay Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, NY as scheduled, the plane made a sharp turn near the airport and flew back over New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C., before the crash occurred in the mountainous terrain of what is believed to be Nelson County, Virginia.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the report of a sonic boom heard around the time of the crash. Sonic booms are typically associated with supersonic aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
Some media is reporting that jet fighters were launched in an attempt to intercept the Cessna Citation as it violated airspace in the Washington D.C. area and that the sonic boom was from the jets.
Nelson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area where they believed the plane crashed but were initially unable to locate the wreckage due to heavy fog in the mountainous area.
Social media platforms have been abuzz with discussions surrounding the reported sonic boom and the possibility of a fighter jet being involved in the pursuit of the Cessna Citation. Flight tracking websites have provided visuals of the aircraft’s flight path, indicating its intended route to New York before the abrupt change in direction and subsequent crash in the vicinity of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.
These developments are based on the available information provided by official sources and flight tracking websites. The investigation is underway, and as more details emerge, a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the crash will be reported.