2nd Crash Landing This Week At Key West Airport
KEY WEST (CBSMiami) – For the second time this week, a small plane has made an emergency landing at Key West's airport.
The twin engine Cessna Citation 550 crash landed at the end of Key West International's runway around 12: 55 p.m., according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The five people onboard the plane were not injured.
The FAA and the NTSB, who were already at the airport investigating the crash earlier this week involving NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick, were able to respond quickly to the scene.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Becky Herrin said last Monday the pilot and co-pilot of a Gulfstream 150 jet radioed to the airport that the plane's brakes were failing, moments before the crash landing around 7:45 p.m. The Hendricks were taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center for treatment. Hendricks suffered a broken rib and shoulder; his wife had minor cuts and bruises. Neither the pilot nor co-pilot were injured.
The plane was registered to Jimmy Johnson Racing II Incorporated out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Johnson, a five time NASCAR champion, was not on the plane.
In addition to Johnson, several other NASCAR drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon drive cars sponsored by Hendrick.
"It was a real big scare, very frightening to hear," said Earnhardt.
In 2004, Hendrick's son Ricky, his brother and two nieces died in a plane crash on their way to a race in Martinsville, Virginia.
