Three individuals lost their lives when a twin-engine Hawker 800 aircraft descended at least 12,000 feet in less than a minute and subsequently burst into flames in a wooded area near Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at approximately 5 p.m., as reported by officials.
The jet crashed close to the intersection of Clark Road and Peacock Road in Bath Charter Township, east of Lansing, after departing from Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field.
The aircraft was on a test flight following recent repairs at Battle Creek Executive Airport, situated around 60 miles from the accident location. Audio recordings captured the pilot’s final moments as he radioed for assistance. “Stall, recovery, stall, recovery!” the pilot was heard exclaiming as the plane descended, according to recordings obtained by the Daily Mail.
An air traffic controller attempted to ascertain the situation by inquiring about the pilot’s altitude, but received no reply. The controller then asked other aircraft in the vicinity to report if they could see the plane or detect any smoke or other signs, as contact with the aircraft had been lost.
Another pilot in the area confirmed the worst fears moments later, reporting visible smoke and indicating a road just south of where the smoke was rising from the ground.
None of the aircraft’s occupants survived the impact. Officials have preliminarily identified the three victims as two pilots from Mexico City and a mechanic from Veracruz, pending DNA confirmation. Flight data indicated the aircraft may have dropped from approximately 14,775 feet to the ground in about 30 seconds before crashing in a wooded area.
The Hawker 800, registered in Mexico, had been at Battle Creek Executive Airport for maintenance before the flight. Phil Kroll, the airport’s aviation director, confirmed the plane had been repaired at the facility but declined to detail the maintenance performed.
“They were just testing out some systems and that’s when the problem occurred,” said Kroll.
The plane erupted into flames upon impact, producing a large smoke plume visible from nearby roads and highways. The force of the impact and the intensity of the fire scattered debris across the crash site.
Local authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration have initiated investigations into the crash. However, the FAA’s responses to inquiries were limited due to funding constraints resulting from the ongoing government shutdown, which affected federal operations at the time.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Aviation experts will examine various factors, including the recent repairs, the systems being tested, weather conditions at the time, and the aircraft’s maintenance history.
The pilot’s distress calls about a stall and recovery suggest the aircraft may have encountered aerodynamic issues that impeded normal operations. A stall, which occurs when an aircraft loses lift due to exceeding a critical angle of attack, may have led to the rapid descent and loss of control.
The Hawker 800, manufactured by British Aerospace, is a mid-size corporate jet capable of carrying eight to nine passengers with crew. It has been in service since the late 1980s and is typically used for business aviation and charter operations.
Investigators will likely analyze the aircraft’s black boxes, if they survived the fire, along with air traffic control recordings, witness statements, and wreckage to determine the cause of the catastrophic failure during the test flight.
The aircraft’s registration in Mexico while undergoing maintenance in Michigan could complicate the investigation, potentially involving international aviation authorities alongside U.S. federal agencies.
The rapid descent left the pilot with little time to implement emergency measures or locate a suitable emergency landing site. The wooded terrain offered few options, even if some control had been maintained.
