Two Pilots Die in Gulfstream G200 Emergency Landing Crash at La Romana

Two pilots were killed June 7, 2026, when a Gulfstream G200 business jet crashed during an emergency landing attempt at La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft, registration N318JF operated by Aibonito Aviation LLC, was conducting a ferry positioning flight to Austin, Texas, when the crew declared an emergency approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of the airport.

According to the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) and the Emergency Operations Center (COE), the crew reported a severe mechanical issue, suspected to be an engine failure. Preliminary analysis of ADS-B and GPS data indicates the crew first attempted an approach into the wind, which resulted in a go-around following an unstable approach. The aircraft then attempted a second approach to runway 29, which involved a tailwind component of approximately 10 knots.

Witness reports and aviation analysts describe a high-speed touchdown and subsequent runway excursion. The aircraft veered off the runway and entered the airport perimeter, where it was destroyed by a post-impact fire. IDAC has opened an investigation into the crash, though official confirmation regarding the nature of the mechanical failure has not yet been released.