Witnesses react to final report on 2024 plane crash on I-75

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—A final federal investigation report released Thursday brought closure to witnesses of a plane crash on Interstate 75 two years ago.

The National Transportation and Safety Board's final investigation concluded years of questions about how and why a jet made an emergency landing on the interstate on Feb. 9. WINK News reporter Haley Zarcone returned to the crash site to speak with witnesses about the report's findings.

Kelley Alzamora and Bill Sears were closer than most to the plane that day.

"I remember the noise the house shook," Alzamora said.

Alzamora lives just across a canal from the crash site. Sears was driving on I-75 when the plane went down and ran toward the jet to help.

"It's just hoping that, you know, if there was any chance that I could help somebody, that I would try," Sears said.

Air traffic control recordings captured the pilots' calm demeanor during the emergency.

"Lost both engines emergency - we're making an emergency landing," the pilot said over the radio.

"I just couldn't believe and to hear the way those guys were so calm on the communications, it was just like, wow," Sears said.

Both witnesses expressed relief that the crash wasn't worse given the traffic on the highway that Friday afternoon.

"A Friday afternoon on the highway. It could have been so much worse," Alzamora said.

The witnesses said they hope the report highlights the pilots' heroism in their final moments.

"He did the best he could to get that plane, which, even with the scraping along the the wall the left wing, was right there at the breakdown length. I mean, almost like perfect," Sears said.

"With all the cars on the highway, could have been so much worse than it was. So they deserve a lot of credit," Alzamora said.

WINK News reached out to those who were on board the plane that day for comment but did not hear back.