Internal corrosion in both engines robbed a Hop-A-Jet Bombardier Challenger of thrust and sent it onto I-75 near Naples on February 9, 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded. The crash killed the two pilots and destroyed the jet, while a flight attendant and two passengers escaped with minor injuries after scrambling out through a rear baggage door. In a final report released Thursday, April 23, 2026, the agency said variable-geometry components had corroded after prolonged exposure to salty, marine air, turning an otherwise routine approach into a catastrophe.
What the NTSB found
Investigators determined that “corrosion of both engines’ variable geometry (VG) system components” triggered near-simultaneous sub-idle rotating compressor stalls and an unrecoverable loss of thrust, according to the NTSB. Chemical analysis of recovered parts showed residue consistent with sea-salt exposure, and the corrosion had altered VG travel and actuation pressures enough to push the system off schedule. The report also criticizes the engine manufacturer’s troubleshooting logic for not putting VG checks near the top of the list, which let the underlying problem slip through after earlier hung-start events.
How the crash unfolded
The jet, operating as Hop-A-Jet Flight 823, departed Ohio State University Airport and was cleared to land at Naples Municipal Airport when three master engine-oil warnings lit up on final approach. At about 1,000 feet, the crew radioed that they had “lost both engines” and turned to southbound I-75 near mile marker 107 as an improvised runway. ADS-B and dashcam footage show the airplane touching down in traffic before its wing clipped a highway sign and the fuselage slammed into a concrete sound wall. A post-impact fire killed the two pilots, while the cabin attendant and two passengers escaped with minor injuries, per reporting by AP.
Survivors and escape
Cabin attendant Sydney Ann Bosmans told investigators she moved the passengers into brace positions, shouting “brace, brace, brace” before impact, then led the survivors through the rear baggage compartment when flames blocked the front exits, according to local reporting and the NTSB’s account as summarized by WGCU. Early coverage, including Jupiter Woman Among Survivors, highlighted dramatic witness video, motorists rushing in to help, and the rapid arrival of emergency crews on I-75. The crew’s quick actions were widely credited with saving lives even as investigators turned their attention to maintenance records and engine design.
Technical context and fixes
Maintenance logs showed multiple hung-start events, including a cluster of hung starts about 25 days before the crash, and documented that the operator followed the manufacturer’s troubleshooting flowchart before returning the airplane to service. As outlined in the NTSB report, the engine maker has since issued service bulletins and revised its fault-isolation logic so that VG pressure checks come earlier in the process. Under the updated guidance, hundreds of CF34-family engines have been inspected. The changes are meant to catch hidden internal corrosion that routine external checks can miss, particularly on aircraft stored or based in salt-air environments.
Legal fallout
Hop-A-Jet later filed a multi-count federal lawsuit alleging that GE Aerospace, Bombardier, and maintenance providers failed to disclose corrosion risks and that design or maintenance shortcomings made the condition hard to detect, according to reporting by WWSB/ABC7 and aviation outlets such as AeroTime. The suit seeks damages for the destroyed aircraft, cleanup expenses, and related losses, and could help drive further industry inspections and oversight. GE has said it is cooperating with investigators and continues to emphasize safety as a core priority.
The NTSB’s final report closes the formal investigative phase but leaves a long tail of operational and legal questions that could reshape maintenance practices and guidance for similar engines. For residents and drivers along Southwest Florida’s highways, the findings are a stark reminder that when things go wrong in the air, the fallout can arrive without warning on the road below.
