Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil was not on his private aircraft when it crashed into another jet at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona on Monday, Feb. 10. One person was killed and several hospitalized, authorities said.
Hours after the incident, the heavy metal band shared a statement on social media from Worrick Robinson, IV, whom they identified as Neil’s representative.
Neil’s Learjet aircraft was trying to land at Scottsdale Airport when “for reasons unknown at this time, the plane veered from the runway causing it to collide with another parked plane,” the statement read.
Neil’s 35A model plane had two pilots and two passengers on board, the statement continued, noting that further details “are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation.”
“Mr. Neil’s thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and he is grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today.”
In a previous post that has since been deleted, the band stated that Neil’s girlfriend and her friend were on his private jet and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They also shared that the pilot “was tragically killed” and the co-pilot and other passengers were being treated at nearby hospitals.
Authorities confirmed the fatality in a news briefing on Monday afternoon.
Kelli Kuester, aviation planning and outreach coordinator at the Scottsdale Airport, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the runway is closed “for the foreseeable future.”
Scottsdale Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Dave Folio said in a news briefing published by Fox 10 Phoenix that five people were involved in the incident. One was pronounced dead on arrival. The deceased was still on board one of the planes, Folio said, adding: “We’re doing everything we can to extricate and save the one soul that’s still on board.”
In a follow-up news briefing, Kuester explained that the collision occurred after the arriving plane’s “left gear failed upon landing.”
Video of the collision posted by AZCentral showed the landing plane buckling and skidding on the runway before making impact with the parked plane.
