Three Americans killed as private jet crashes in southern France

Claude Paris / AP

Police Officers walk near the plane that crashed on landing at Le Castellet airport, near Toulon, southern France, Friday, July, 13, 2012. Three US citizens died in the accident.

Three Americans were killed Friday when a private jet crashed and burst into flames at the end of a runway in the south of France, police officials told NBC News.

The Americans formed the plane crew and no other passengers were on board, the Police Prefecture of Var told NBC.


The aircraft, a Mystere-Falcon 20, crashed at Castellet airport, between Marseille and Toulon, moments after the pilot signaled a problem at around 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EST), authorities said. The jet had departed from Nice, officials said.

The reason for the crash remained unclear.

French authorities have not released the identities of those killed in the accident, except to say that the 60-year-old pilot, 24-year-old co-pilot and 30-year-old flight attendant all died in the crash.

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RIP

Just wondering who was in the plane before that flight.

    Reply#30 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:06 AM EDT

    Just saying that the photo is NOT the tail of a Mystere-Falcon 20!

      Reply#31 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:46 AM EDT

      I do not have to go to Fox News or anyplace else. I flew both Gulfstreams and falcons of every variety for over 40 years. This is a Gulfstream IV, Not a Falcon 20. The Horizontal Stabilizer on a falcon is at mid level up the Vertical Stabilizer, which this is not. And the engines are much too large.

        Reply#32 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 11:43 PM EDT

        Very sorry for the news. I used to live near there. A real tragedy

          Reply#33 - Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:13 AM EDT
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