Jet Crashes Through Fence at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas

A small passenger jet knocked down a fence at McCarran International Airport and poked its nose several feet into Tropicana Avenue on Wednesday night, causing at least one fender bender and forcing the street's closure from Koval Lane to Paradise Road for about five hours.

The unoccupied plane struck the fence about 6:45 p.m.

Linda Healey, a spokeswoman for McCarran, said officials didn't know what caused the Dassault Falcon 900 EX to go through the fence. The plane had been parked on the tarmac before it moved toward the street, Healey said.

A crane was brought in to move the aircraft. By 10:55 p.m., crews had moved it away from the road, and Tropicana had reopened.

The jet is owned by TP Aviation, in care of McAfee & Taft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Oklahoma City-based McAfee & Taft is a law firm that works on mergers and acquisitions, employment law and other matters, according to its Web site.

About 8 p.m., the airplane's nose was protruding onto Tropicana while workers unloaded fuel before moving the jet. A large section of fence, more than 20 feet long, that separates Tropicana from McCarran was knocked down in front of the plane.

Las Vegas police redirected traffic and turned away pedestrians from the area.

Sharif Malik, 36, saw the plane knock down the fence. The security guard with CPS Security Solutions said he was patrolling property directly across from McCarran when he saw the plane break through the fence.

"I saw it and backed up to make space in case of an explosion," Malik said. "I wanted to keep distance."

Malik couldn't guess the airplane's speed as it approached Tropicana, but he said it "wasn't very fast."

Malik immediately called 911 and watched as personnel that he suspected were from McCarran swarmed the plane.

Three taxicabs traveling on Tropicana at the time crashed when one of the vehicles swerved as the airplane approached, Malik said.

"You know when you are driving and see an airplane on the street? It was a surprise," he said.

Las Vegas police Lt. Tim Opendyk, who was at the scene Wednesday night, said the cabdrivers weren't injured in the crash and were walking around after the accident.

The incident drew onlookers. One man, Sam Sanchez, 63, said he was watching the news at his home, about three blocks away, and wanted to see the airplane for himself.

Standing about 80 yards from the airplane, Sanchez said he had never seen anything like it in the 10 years he has lived in Las Vegas.

"These things happen," he said. "I still believe airplanes are safer than cars."

Review-Journal writer Brian Haynes contributed to this story.

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