Three Killed In Hawker 800XP Stall Crash Near Bath, Michigan

A Hawker 800XP business jet crashed near Bath Township, Michigan, on the evening of October 16, 2025, resulting in the tragic deaths of all three individuals on board. The aircraft, registered XA-JMR and operated by a Mexican carrier, was reportedly on a post-maintenance test flight when it encountered severe difficulties. Preliminary information suggests the crew experienced a stall at an altitude between 14,000 and 16,000 feet, with a pilot heard exclaiming “Stall, recovery!” to air traffic control shortly before the rapid descent.

The jet took off from Battle Creek Executive Airport and its flight track ended abruptly in an area north of Interstate 69. ADS-B data indicates the aircraft entered a sudden and steep descent from approximately 14,775 feet, impacting the ground within 30 seconds. Witnesses described the plane appearing to corkscrew towards the earth before a large plume of smoke marked the crash site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is leading the investigation into the incident, with support from other agencies.

Investigators are examining several factors, including the aircraft’s aerodynamic stall profile, maintenance records, and the crew’s actions during the critical phase of flight. The fact that this was the first flight after maintenance is a key area of focus, with investigators scrutinizing work orders and component sign-offs. The rapid and catastrophic loss of control, indicated by the extreme rate of descent, suggests a potential critical malfunction that prevented any effective recovery by the pilots.

This incident echoes a similar, though not identical, crash involving a Hawker business jet in February 2024, which also occurred during an after-maintenance test flight and resulted in fatalities. In another incident on December 20, 2020, a Hawker 800XP experienced a hard landing near Farmingdale, New York, due to a delayed go-around attempt after an unstabilized approach, which injured two crew members. Investigations into aviation accidents are complex and can take months to determine the probable cause.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the Michigan crash. While the NTSB has released preliminary reports on some past Hawker incidents, final reports and probable causes can take considerable time to be published. The investigation will aim to reconstruct the sequence of events, analyze flight data, and determine whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or external factors contributed to the tragic outcome.

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