Joshua Baer, the founder and CEO of the Austin-based startup accelerator Capital Factory, tragically lost his life in a plane crash on a Laredo highway on Tuesday night.
The business jet, which was carrying six individuals, collided with Loop 20 and ignited around 10 p.m., as confirmed by a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 680A business jet operated by NetJets, struck a vehicle, resulting in the passengers being transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, according to reports. Additionally, five officers received treatment for smoke inhalation.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, approximately seven motorists abandoned their vehicles to aid the victims. Footage from the scene shows two individuals attempting to break into the cockpit by smashing the window with a sledgehammer and a shovel. Most of the passengers aboard the plane managed to exit the jet independently.
Baer, who served as a board member for the Texas Tribune from 2015 to 2017, was the sole casualty of the incident.
The flight had taken off earlier that evening from San José del Cabo, located at the southern tip of Baja California Sur in Mexico, and was headed for Austin, according to the FAA.
This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
In other news, ten new speakers have been added to the lineup for the Texas Tribune Festival, taking place September 24-26 in downtown Austin. Notable figures such as Kevin Stitt, Sherrilyn Ifill, Mitch Little, Imani Perry, Ron Nirenberg, Carla Espinoza-Grcic, Karl Rove, Elisa Villanueva Beard, Avi Loeb, and Joanna Lydgate will be featured. Tickets are available for those interested in attending.
TribFest 2026 is presented by JPMorgan Chase.
