Heroic Efforts Cited in Florida Challenger Crash

N823KD, a Bombardier Challenger 604 leased and operated by Part 135 charter firm Fort Lauderdale, Florida–based Hop-A-Jet, crashed while on approach to Naples Airport (KAPF) at about 3:10 p.m. EST on February 9. The large-cabin twinjet was approaching to land at the Southwest Florida airport—its intended destination after departing from the Ohio State University Airport in Columbus—but crashed approximately two miles east/northeast of KAPF on the southbound lane of Interstate I-75 after reporting a dual engine failure.

The jet struck two automobiles as it attempted to conduct an emergency landing on the southbound lanes of I-75 and then caught fire. An FAA statement indicated that five people were on the jet.

On Saturday afternoon, the Collier County Sheriff’s Department identified the two pilots killed in the accident as Edward Daniel Murphy, 50, of Oakland Park, Florida, and second-in-command Ian Frederick Hofmann, 65, of Pompano Beach, Florida. Survivors include crewmember Sydney Ann Bosmans of Jupiter, Florida, and passengers Aaron Baker and Audra Green, both of Columbus, Ohio, the department said. “Survivors were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries,” it added.

A recording from LiveATC captured one of the pilots reporting to ATC: "OK, Challenger, ah, Hop-A-Jet 823, lost both engines, emergency, making an emergency landing." After being cleared to land on Runway 23, the pilot radioed, "Ah, we're cleared to land but we're not going to make the runway, we've lost both engines."

FlightAware data shows a mostly typical approach toward KAPF's Runway 23 before its final minutes. From about 3:07 to 3:09 p.m. EST, the Challenger held an altitude of about 1,800 feet, but the flight tracking data thereafter shows a nearly 1,800 fpm descent rate before it crashed on the highway about a minute later.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter) late Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the accident.

Hop-A-Jet released the following statement to BJT sister publication Aviation International News: "Hop-A-Jet has received confirmed reports of an accident involving one of our leased aircraft near Naples, Florida. We are working quickly to gather additional information. As information is received and confirmed, it will be communicated if authorized by the NTSB, and only after we have had the opportunity to share it with the families."

Bosman’s LinkedIn page shows that she has been a contract flight attendant for about two and a half years, completing FACTS flight attendant safety training in December 2022. That training focused on emergency evacuations in Gulfstreams; large-cabin Dassault Falcons; Bombardier Challengers and Globals; Hawkers; Learjet 45s, 55s, and 60s; and Citations with over-the-wing emergency exits. She also holds ServSafe food-handling certifications.