Cause of deadly Arizona plane crash revealed, deceased pilot identified
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Officials in Arizona have revealed that a landing gear failure caused the private jet owned by Vince Neil – the lead singer of Mötley Crüe – to rapidly skid off a runway and slam into a parked private jet on Monday, killing its co-pilot. 

Three other people were injured in the collision at Scottsdale Airport, including a second pilot as well as Neil’s girlfriend Rain Hannah and her friend. A fifth person who was in the parked jet refused medical attention. Neil was not on the plane.

“According to initial reports, the Learjet’s left main landing gear failed upon landing, leading to the collision,” the City of Scottsdale said in a statement on its website. “Airport operations staff and emergency personnel from Scottsdale Fire Station 609 responded to the scene within one minute of the collision.”

Learjet Scottsdale

A landing gear failure caused the private jet owned by Vince Neil, the lead singer of Mötley Crüe, top right, to crash into a parked private jet on Monday, left. 

“I am extremely grateful to the first responders and airport operations staff on scene today for their swift action and service,” Scottsdale Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro said in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by this tragedy.” 

Scottsdale Fire Capt. Dave Folio said a person was trapped in Neil’s jet after the crash, but rescuers were able to free them from the wreckage. The person was transferred to a trauma center in critical condition.

Hannah suffered five broken ribs, per TMZ. The two passengers also had dogs on the plane that survived the incident.

The two aircraft were separated by rescue crews later on Monday. Images from the scene show the cockpit area of the Learjet almost completely caved in on its left-hand side with a red tarp over it. 

Eyewitness Gordan Johnson, who has worked for 35 years in aviation, told Fox 10 that he saw the front landing gear collapse and then watched the jet slide off the runway to the left.

Scottsdale airport

A plane veered off the runway after landing at Scottsdale Airport on Monday and crashed into another plane, the Federal Aviation Administration says. (@donniefitz2 via X)

The plane was coming from Austin, Texas when it crashed. The jet is registered to Chromed in Hollywood, Inc – a Wyoming-based company – that lists Neil as its director, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is investigating the crash.

Scottsdale Airport announced the runway was reopened at 10:38 p.m. on Monday.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price, Lorraine Taylor and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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