A private jet on its way to pick up former US president George Bush at a Houston airport crashed in bad weather last night, killing its three crew members.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FBI agents went to the scene, and officials said the crash appeared to be an accident.
Witnesses said the jet, owned by a Tulsa, Oklahoma, charter company, clipped a light tower on a Houston highway when it was approaching the airport in foggy weather. The jet left a trail of debris that struck several cars as it fell to the ground.
The two pilots and a flight attendant on board were killed, but no one in the cars was hurt, officials said.
The Gulfstream jet was supposed to take Mr Bush, the father of President George W. Bush, to Guayaquil, Ecuador, to make a speech to the chamber of commerce, a Bush aide said.
The trip was cancelled after Mr Bush, who lives in Houston, got word of the crash upon arriving at William P. Hobby Airport, he said.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the plane crash this morning," Mr Bush said in a statement. "I have flown with this crew before and know them well. I join in sending heartfelt condolences to each and every member of their families."