A private jet slammed into a wooded area in Bath Township, Michigan, Thursday evening, killing all three people on board and sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky just north of Lansing.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene near a quiet intersection around 5 p.m., where the aircraft — believed to be a Hawker 800XP, a sleek corporate jet often used for business travel — had been reduced to twisted metal.
Three people killed after a Mexican registered Hawker 800XP spiraled out of control and crashed in Bath, Michigan Thursday evening, police confirmed.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) October 17, 2025
According to Bath Township Police, the plane crashed near the intersection of Clark Road and Peacock Road around 5 p.m.
Police… pic.twitter.com/c33uLsBdjA
“This is a tragic loss for everyone involved,” said Bath Township Supervisor Ryan Fewins-Bliss in a late-night statement. “All three passengers have been located and confirmed deceased. Our hearts go out to their families.”
Authorities say the cause of the crash remains unknown, and federal investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have been dispatched to comb through the wreckage.
Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicates the plane had taken off just minutes earlier from Battle Creek–WK Kellogg Regional Airport, roughly 70 miles away, before losing contact. The jet was registered in Mexico and reportedly operated by Aereo Lineas del Centro SA, though officials have not confirmed those details.
Residents in the area described hearing a “low rumble” before a deafening explosion. “I thought maybe it was thunder,” said Megan Dorsey, who lives less than a mile from the crash site. “Then I saw the smoke and knew something terrible had happened.”
Investigators are now working to determine whether weather, mechanical failure, or pilot distress played a role in the fatal accident.
The names of the victims have not yet been released pending family notification.
“This is a devastating scene,” said one Bath Township firefighter, who asked not to be identified. “It’s something you never get used to.”
The FAA confirmed late Thursday that it is leading the investigation, with preliminary findings expected in the coming days.
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