A tech millionaire died in a highway plane crash. Brave strangers saved the other five.

A private jet crashed upside down on a Texas road, killing Austin startup leader Joshua Baer while local heroes rescued five survivors.

When a plane starts to fall from the sky, we trust the pilots and the machines to keep us safe. But when a flight goes wrong on a dark highway, the line between life and death comes down to the courage of strangers on the ground.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Tuesday night, a private jet carrying six people crashed on Texas State Highway Loop 20 near the Mexico border. The plane hit the road upside down around 10 p.m. and burst into flames, throwing metal across the lanes and hitting a car.

Joshua Baer, a well-known tech leader from Austin, died in the crash. He was the head of Capital Factory, a group that helps new businesses grow.

Five other people on the plane survived. Brave people ran to the burning wreck with a sledgehammer and a shovel to smash the glass and pull them out.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

The jet was a Cessna Latitude run by NetJets.

• The flight left Mexico at 6:18 p.m. and was headed to Austin.
• Tower workers said the plane had an engine issue before they lost contact.
• Five passengers survived the crash along with one person in a car.
• Five rescue workers had to go to the hospital for breathing in smoke.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

Private jet travel is growing fast. These planes fly over our homes and roads every day. When a machine fails, pilots must make fast choices about where to land.

Should we look closer at how safe these private flights are? This crash shows how a private flight problem can quickly become a public danger on a busy road.

THE OTHER SIDE

NetJets and the plane crew have not blamed anyone for the crash yet. They are working with federal safety teams to find out what went wrong.

Since these safety tests take a long time, we cannot know who was at fault yet.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Federal teams are looking into the crash. The road will need repairs, and local leaders are mourning a major figure in the Texas business world.

For regular people, this crash shows the sudden dangers of road travel and the great bravery of everyday citizens who risk their lives to help.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

What specific engine problem caused the plane to lose contact?

• Why did the plane turn upside down before it hit the highway?
• Will federal safety rules for private flights change after this crash?