A private jet belonging to Vince Neil, the lead singer of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, was involved in a deadly collision on Monday, leaving a pilot dead and three others injured.
“A Learjet 35A, arriving from Austin, veered off the runway and struck a parked Gulfstream 200,” Kuester said.
“According to initial reports, the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the exact cause of the collision, which killed one of the pilots operating Neil’s private jet, per a Federal Aviation Administration incident report.
“On board Mr. Neil’s plane were two pilots and two passengers. Mr. Neil was not on the plane,” Robinson said, adding that no further details about the crash were available at this time.
“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.”
The second pilot and two passengers aboard Neil’s plane were injured in the crash and transported to nearby hospitals. A fifth individual who was in the parked jet was not seriously injured and declined to receive treatment at the scene.
Fans and followers of Mötley Crüe issued messages of support in the comment section of the band’s Instagram post.
“Prayers to the pilots family and all involved. So incredibly sad!!! Bless them all,” wrote one Instagram user.
“My deepest condolences. Sending thoughts and prayers,” penned another.
“My deepest condolences to the victims and their families. Wishing strength to everyone affected,” another follower wrote.
The Epoch Times reached out to a representative of Neil’s for comment; no additional information was provided.
A since-deleted statement posted to Mötley Crüe’s X account indicated that Neil’s girlfriend, Rain Andreani, a barrel racer who goes by Rain Hannah online, and her friend were the two passengers injured in the collision.
In a statement shared via Instagram, Andreani’s barrel racing coach, Lance Graves, confirmed she was on the plane at the time of the crash. He said Andreani and her friend, Ashley Rosile, had been traveling to Arizona to meet him at an equine event.
“Yesterday while flying into Scottsdale Arizona to meet me for this weeks Royal Crown barrel racing competition @rainhannah and @lvarae aboard @thevinceneil private jet collided with a gulfstream when a malfunction caused longtime pilot to lose control of the jet almost immediately after landing.”
Graves noted that Andreani and Rosile were “incredibly fortunate” to have survived the accident.
“Our pilot was not so fortunate. Our love and prayers are with him and his family,” Graves added.
“As we close in on Valentine’s Day, a holiday reserved for love and human connection, please hold those you love close to you, safe in the arms of love. Remember what your knees are for because ‘this’ can all be gone in an instant.”
