A shocking plane crash in Texas killed Jewish businessman and philanthropist Yehoshua Baer, a 50-year-old father of three and chairman of Capital Factory, while he was returning from Mexico with five other passengers. The private plane went down on Wednesday night for reasons still under investigation and crashed onto a highway in Laredo, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene. The small jet was seen careening along the dark road, knocking down heavy light poles and leaving a trail of sparks and orange flames. Ivan Franco, a tow truck driver who reached the site, told AP he first thought it was a bad car accident. When he got closer, he saw a plane split in two, lying on its side as huge flames spread.
Franco said he grabbed a hammer and three fire extinguishers from his vehicle and ran toward the burning wreck with police, fearing the fuel could explode at any moment. He said he tried to break the windows because the people inside were trapped and could not get out. Other drivers also stopped and rushed into the smoke in an attempt to help, but the fire and destruction were too severe.
Baer was widely known in Texas not only as a wealthy tech figure but also as a major charity leader. Through his family foundation, he donated heavily to causes he cared about, especially support for children with special needs and their families. He also backed local Jewish organizations and worked with the Anti-Defamation League to defend American Jews. He leaves behind a wife and young children.
