Learjet crashed shortly after takeoff from South Carolina's Columbia Metropolitan Airport

A Learjet 60 private aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff late on 19 September 2008 from South Carolina's Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE/CAE). An FAA official stated that the aircraft -- which was owned by Global Exec Aviation, a California-based company -- was carrying six passengers; four of them were reportedly killed in the crash and the other two passengers remain in critical condition. The status of the crew is unknown. The flight was bound for Van Nuys, California, when it crashed on a road near the airport. The crash shut down the airport, and nine commercial airlines cancelled flights through 1900 local time on 20 September. The cause of the crash is still unknown.