A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft.

Gulfstream G200 and G280, also IAI Galaxy

Curt Epstein

The Dominican Republic’s Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission (CIAA) and the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) are investigating the fatal crash of a Gulfstream G200, which went down yesterday while attempting to make an emergency return to La Romana International Airport (MDLR). Both pilots—the only people onboard—were killed in the accident.
With a scheduled destination of Texas’ Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the twinjet—N318JF, registered to Puerto Rico-based Aibonito Aviation—took off around 3:30 p.m. local time and soon after the flight crew declared an in-flight emergency and attempted to return to the airport. According to reports, after what appeared to be a landing attempt on Runway 11, five minutes after takeoff, the aircraft circled and then lined up on Runway 29.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered left, and the landing gear collapsed as it departed the runway. Video from the scene shows the stricken jet skidding across the grass at a high rate of speed, hitting a ditch, bouncing up in the air, and shedding the left engine. It then erupted into a fireball as it collided with a runway sign.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Gulfstream G200 Crash Claims Two in Dominican Republic

The twinjet was attempting an emergency landing soon after take off

A Gulfstream G200 and its crew met a fiery end yesterday in the Dominican Republic while attempting to make an emergency airport return. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot elected not to use the parachute and glided to Athens Airport

Successful Landing after Cirrus Vision Jet Engine Failure

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, June 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: June 2026

Amy Wilder

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Study examined toxicology results from 2018 through 2022

NTSB: Drug Detection Up among Pilots Killed in Accidents

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Mission completed via nine hoists in 3- to 5-foot seas

U.S. Air Force Rescues All 11 from Ditched King Air

Striking objects at low altitude is one of the greatest risks to helicopter operations

Aviation Coalition Aims To Rein in Slackline Hazards

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

In this article

Gulfstream G200/G280/Galaxy

Gulfstream

More In Accidents

Successful Landing after Cirrus Vision Jet Engine Failure

Pilot elected not to use the parachute and glided to Athens Airport

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: June 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, June 2026

NTSB: Drug Detection Up among Pilots Killed in Accidents

Study examined toxicology results from 2018 through 2022

U.S. Air Force Rescues All 11 from Ditched King Air

Mission completed via nine hoists in 3- to 5-foot seas

Aviation Coalition Aims To Rein in Slackline Hazards

Striking objects at low altitude is one of the greatest risks to helicopter operations

AD NPRM on CF34-3 Engine a Result of Hop-A-Jet Crash

Rule would require tests and maintenance actions following hung starts

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: May 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, May 2026

Hop-A-Jet: NTSB Final Report Is ‘Accurate Assessment’

Company wants lessons learned to be shared in bizav community

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN