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Video Captures Aspen Challenger Crash

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Key Takeaways:

  • A Challenger 601 crashed at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport on January 5, resulting in one pilot killed and two critically injured.
  • The crash occurred on the aircraft's second landing attempt, captured by security video, after it bounced upon touchdown and erupted in a fireball.
  • Strong tailwinds (33 knots) and wind shear were reported as significant factors, leading to the aborted first landing attempt and challenging conditions for the second.
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Dramatic security video from five infrared cameras at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Colorado captured the January 5 crash of a Challenger 601 that killed a pilot and critically injured two others.

The video, posted online by Aspen Journalism, a local non-profit media outlet, shows the airplane on its second landing attempt after aborting the first try due to strong tailwinds. Immediately after touching down, the Challenger bounces back into the air before crashing on the runway in a fireball.

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