MOTLEY Crue frontman Vince Neil was celebrating his birthday in Florida when his private plane crashed into another jet at an Arizona airport, his friend said.

His partner of 14 years Rain Hannah was injured in the horror that unfolded at an airport in Scottsdale on Monday.

Hannah was in the state as she was preparing to take part in an equestrian competition.

And longtime pal Lance Graves told TMZ Neil was planning to head to the state later in the week.

Neil had recently turned 64 and was celebrating his birthday and enjoying the beach.

Hannah was injured, but veteran pilot Joie Vitosky, 78 was killed.

Vitosky had been flying for 60 years, his daughter revealed.

She was on a Learjet 35A aircraft that experienced a landing gear failure.

This meant it plowed into a Gulfstream aircraft that was parked on the airfield.

Hannah was left with five broken ribs and has since pulled out of the Royal Crown barrel racing competition she was due to appear in.

Graves said she needs time both “physically and emotionally” to recover.

Her friend Ashley Rosile was taken to the hospital following the smash.

Neil’s lawyers issued a statement following the crash.

“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,” his lawyer said at the time.

Flights leaving the airport in Scottsdale were temporarily halted as investigators probed the crash.

The horror smash was just the latest in a series of aviation incidents that have left the US reeling.

Sixty-seven people were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger plane that was about to touch down at Reagan National Airport last month.

Three soldiers were on the copter, while the jet was carrying 64 people.

Both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River and despite a desperate frantic rescue effort, there were no survivors.