Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, an internationally recognized aviation plaintiffs’ attorney, commented on the Tuesday, June 16, 2026, late-night crash into a Texas highway, which killed one of the six people on board and sent the others to the hospital:
“The NTSB certainly will be involved in this tragedy, examining the circumstances surrounding the landing of this aircraft as well as the performance of the pilots and the appropriateness of their approach for the unsuccessful landing. From the initial reports, investigators, as part of their determination of the probable cause of this crash, will carefully examine the reports of mechanical issues with the aircraft and how those may have factored into pilot performance,” Clifford said.
On June 29, 2026, Clifford spoke to Alac Nolan at Fox 7 Austin, reiterating the complexities surrounding aviation matters and the importance of context in investigations. He also emphasized the critical role of the National Transportation Safety Board in determining whether the crash was an isolated incident or indicative of a broader safety concern, stating, “Right now there are literally hundreds of similar aircraft in the skies across America… is this a one-off thing, or is this a maintenance problem with a part? We don’t know that yet. That’s why I am certain that the NTSB will be acting with very deliberate dispatch in getting to the bottom of what happened.”
A private NetJets Cessna Citation Latitude reportedly carrying six people crashed about 10 p.m. Tuesday local time, into Texas State Highway Loop 20 in Laredo, Texas, killing one person and injuring five others on board. The plane reportedly had taken off from Mexico’s San Jose del Cabo and was bound for Austin, Texas, before diverting to Laredo, Texas. Media reports indicate that the plane’s crew reported mechanical problems and low fuel as they were flying to their destination.
Clifford, who has represented many victims of small plane crashes as well as being involved in every major commercial airline disaster in the U.S. in the last five decades, including serving as Lead Counsel against Boeing in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX8, is a frequent private jet flier himself. He understands what goes into the details necessary for a safe private jet trip for a plane like this that generally holds seven to nine people in executive seating. Video from the crash scene shows the wreckage with the nose section lying sideways on the highway with flames and thick smoke billowing from a section of the plane with first responders, including heroes near the scene leaving their cars, trying to gain entry into the plane.
Clifford went on to say, “The NTSB certainly will examine the maintenance records of this aircraft, cockpit communications prior to the crash, flight data, pilot actions, and all aircraft systems to determine what is the probable cause of this crash. If it is a mechanical failure, maintenance deficiency or design defect that contributed to this tragedy, those who are responsible all must be held accountable. These families deserve answers.”
NetJets, reportedly the world’s largest private jet fleet, is owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and offers fractional ownership of aircraft to its customers. Clifford has been involved in previous litigation involving the NetJets company and is familiar with its protocols and procedures.
For further information or to speak to Robert Clifford, contact Clifford Law Offices Communications Partner Pamela Sakowicz Menaker at 847-721-0909 (cell) or pammenaker@cliffordlaw.com.