Victim Identified in Fatal NetJets Citation Latitude Crash in Laredo, Texas

The sole fatality in Tuesday (16-June-2026) night’s crash involving NetJets Flight has been identified as Joshua Baer, a prominent Austin entrepreneur, startup mentor, and founder of Capital Factory, one of Texas’ most influential startup incubators. Capital Factory confirmed his passing on Wednesday.

Baer was widely regarded as a driving force behind Austin’s technology and venture capital ecosystem, helping launch and support hundreds of startups over the past two decades. He also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Texas and was known for connecting founders, investors, and innovators across Texas.

The NetJets-operated Cessna 680 Citation Latitude was flying from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Austin, Texas, when the crew reported mechanical difficulties and attempted an emergency diversion to Laredo International Airport. The aircraft crashed onto Loop 20 shortly before 10 p.m. local time, several miles short of the runway. Five other occupants survived and were transported to local hospitals.

The FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation into the accident. NetJets says it is fully cooperating with authorities and providing support to affected families.

Our thoughts are with Joshua Baer’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Austin startup community during this difficult time.