NTSB Releases Final Report on Fatal CL604 Crash

Investigators cite corrosion in 2024 dual engine failure.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, April 24, 2026 at 11:28 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

NTSB logo and image [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB determined that corrosion in both GE CF34-3B engines' variable geometry (VG) systems was the probable cause of the Bombardier Challenger 604 crash.
This corrosion, found to contain elements commonly associated with seawater due to the aircraft's coastal basing, obstructed airflow and led to a dual engine power loss.
Prior "hung start" engine issues a month before the accident were not resolved because the engine manufacturer's fault isolation guidance was insufficient to identify the underlying corrosion.
The crash resulted in the deaths of the pilot and copilot, while the cabin attendant and two passengers survived with minor injuries after evacuating the aircraft.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has cited corrosion in both engines as the probable cause in the crash of a Bombardier Challenger 604 on a Florida freeway in 2024.

The pilot and copilot were killed in the fire following the crash. The cabin attendant and the two passengers on board escaped through the baggage compartment door with minor injuries. A motorist was also slightly injured when the aircraft came down on a heavily traveled interstate during rush hour.