Two American pilots were killed after a private jet crashed and caught fire while attempting an emergency landing at an airport in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, aviation authorities said.

The aircraft, a US-registered Gulfstream G200 business jet, had taken off from La Romana International Airport and was heading to Austin, Texas, when the crew reported an in-flight emergency shortly after departure. The jet was carrying only the pilot and co-pilot, with no passengers on board.

According to the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), the aircraft declared an emergency while flying about 16 nautical miles (30 kilometres) southwest of La Romana. The crew then attempted to return to the airport for an emergency landing.

The landing attempt ended in tragedy when the jet crashed on the runway and burst into flames.

Aircraft erupts in flames during landing attempt

Videos shared on social media showed thick black smoke billowing from the airport as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Footage appeared to show the aircraft making a hard landing before becoming engulfed in fire.

Airport firefighting teams responded immediately, deploying water and firefighting foam in an effort to contain the blaze.

Despite the rapid emergency response, both pilots sustained fatal injuries. Authorities confirmed that the two crew members were the only people aboard the aircraft and that no injuries were reported on the ground.

"The aircraft declared an emergency while approximately 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) southwest of La Romana" and crashed as it was attempting to land there, IDAC said.

Investigation launched into cause of crash

Dominican aviation authorities have opened a formal investigation to determine what caused the accident.

IDAC said emergency protocols were activated immediately following the crash. Investigators from the Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) will examine the aircraft's maintenance records, technical documentation, communications with air traffic controllers and any available flight data.

Officials have not yet disclosed the nature of the mechanical problem that prompted the emergency declaration.

"The pilot and co-pilot, both Americans, died," the civil aviation authority said, adding that "No passengers were reported" on board.

Jet was reportedly travelling to collect Yadier Molina

Former Major League Baseball star Yadier Molina said the aircraft had been scheduled to pick up him and his family in Texas before flying them to Puerto Rico.

"My condolences to the pilots and their families," Molina wrote in a post on Instagram alongside a video showing the aircraft crashing and catching fire.

Molina, a former catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, is widely regarded as one of the finest defensive catchers in baseball history. During his career from 2004 to 2022, he won two World Series championships with the Cardinals.

Aviation safety under scrutiny

The Gulfstream G200 involved in the accident is a business jet capable of carrying up to 18 passenges.

La Romana International Airport serves one of the Dominican Republic's leading tourist destinations. Tourism remains a vital sector of the Caribbean nation's economy.

The crash also recalls a fatal aviation accident in the country in 2021, when nine people died after a private aircraft experienced an emergency and crashed following its departure from Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo.

While commercial and private aviation remain among the safest forms of transport, investigators will seek to determine whether mechanical issues, maintenance factors or other circumstances contributed to Sunday's fatal accident. Authorities said further details would be released as the investigation progresses.