Net Jets CEO Response:

Last night, the private jet company’s Chairman and CEO, Adam Johnson, emailed customers listing several steps the company is taking.
Johnson wrote in part, “NetJets has maintained one of the strongest safety records in the history of aviation.”

It was the first fatal accident in NetJets’ history.
Johnson continued, “The crew involved in this event responded to an extraordinarily complex and unprecedented series of circumstances with professionalism, discipline, and dedication to passenger safety.”
The five-page NTSB report details the in-flight communication between the pilots and operations and maintenance after the pilots noticed an “unusual vibration” during the flight from Los Cabos to Austin.
After that vibration went away, it was determined that the aircraft could continue to its destination.
However, as N523QS neared the U.S. border, several warnings popped up.
Multiple messages indicated that the right fuel system had low fuel pressure.
About three minutes later, two more messages were displayed, including additional failure messages.
The flight crew declared an emergency and requested a diversion to Laredo.
The flight crew reported a generator failure and multiple other failures, including a low fuel level indication.
The Latitude crashed on a highway short of the runway, resulting in one fatality, Joshua Baer, a passenger in the aircraft.
Johnson wrote to NetJets customers:
‘The NTSB’s preliminary report is a factual summary of information collected to date and does not contain findings, conclusions, or a determination of probable cause. As described by the NTSB in the report, the aircraft experienced a failure of the right engine’s Direct Current (DC) generator during flight. The crew then elected to divert the flight to Laredo. While en route to the diversion airport, the aircraft then experienced a failure of the right engine’s Alternating Current (AC) generator. Faced with this highly unusual and evolving series of anomalies, the crew initiated an emergency landing…This event is the only time we have identified one of our aircraft experiencing cascading DC and AC generator failures and a corresponding fuel-line failure after more than 7.2 million engine hours flown since we introduced the Latitude into our fleet.’
Johnson wrote that the company has “conducted a comprehensive review of the manufacturer-issued procedures associated with in-flight generator failures.”
He noted, “In coordination with the NTSB and the FAA, NetJets implemented new operational guidance for our crews that provides additional decision-making support beyond all preexisting OEM procedures,” adding, “This new guidance fills in gaps created by the original Latitude checklist published by the OEM.”
The company also “implemented enhanced inspection requirements for DC and AC generators across our fleet” and “expanded inspections of fuel-line sensors, supporting clamps, and associated components.”
NetJets Latitude Fleet
The Latitude is the largest fleet type for the world’s largest private jet operator.
As of July, it had 262 Cessna super-midsize aircraft in its fleet.
Johnson wrote, “After extensive review of the information currently available, we remain fully confident in the Latitude as a safe, reliable, and highly capable aircraft,” adding, “On a professional and personal level, I have chosen the Latitude as my primary aircraft choice throughout my time as CEO.”