Falcon 50 overruns Las Vegas runway after rejected takeoff, disrupting flights

A chartered Dassault Falcon 50 bound for Toronto overshot a runway at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport on Sunday, 18 October 2026, striking the airport perimeter fence after its crew rejected takeoff. No one was injured, but the jet sustained substantial damage and the airport temporarily closed two runways, disrupting commercial flights.

At approximately 10:52 a.m. local time, the Falcon 50, registered N200SG, was accelerating along Runway 1L when its crew abandoned the departure. It never became airborne. Despite slowing down, the three-engined business jet ran beyond the end of the nearly 3,000-metre runway, turned sharply to the right and struck the airport fence with its left wing. It eventually stopped near the adjoining Runway 1R.

Investigators have not established why the takeoff was rejected. Aviation Week, citing aircraft-tracking analysis, reported that the Falcon was still moving at about 119 knots, or 220 km/h, roughly 300 metres before the runway end, and around 70 knots as it crossed the end of the pavement. These are tracking-derived estimates, not validated recorder findings. They illustrate how much speed remained, but cannot establish when the pilots made the decision or why the aircraft failed to stop.

Among the occupants was American actor and singer Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block, who had completed a Las Vegas concert residency the previous evening. In a video posted after the accident, Wahlberg said he was travelling with members of his team and friends. He praised the pilots for steering clear of trucks, dumpsters and construction equipment beyond the runway. The FAA said eight people were aboard; Aviation Week reported 11. The regulator’s initial figure remains the more directly attributable count pending clarification.

Everyone survived, but the aircraft was damaged

Airport officials reported no injuries. The Falcon sustained substantial damage, with its left wing making contact with the perimeter fence. There were no reports of it striking nearby construction vehicles. The aircraft is registered to Jacks Wings LLC of Boca Raton, Florida, and was being operated by True Aviation Charter Services, according to Aviation International News. The operator’s director of operations, Jesse Gallagher, said the company had begun its own review.

Flight-tracking records show the aircraft had arrived from Seattle earlier that morning and was preparing to fly to Toronto Pearson. It was therefore undertaking its second flight of the day. That sequence alone offers no explanation for the rejected takeoff.

Two runways closed as incoming flights were held

Harry Reid airport temporarily closed the parallel Runways 1L and 1R for inspections and recovery of the damaged aircraft. The FAA imposed a temporary ground stop affecting flights bound for Las Vegas, holding some departures at their origin airports while controllers managed the reduced arrival capacity.

Local broadcaster FOX5 reported that dozens of flights were grounded or delayed. Controllers reassigned arrivals and adjusted runway operations as the disruption developed. The ground stop was subsequently lifted, although knock-on delays remained possible. There is no verified consolidated count of cancellations attributable specifically to this accident.

The timing coincided with the build-up to NBAA-BACE, a major business aviation convention opening in Las Vegas on 20 October, when business jet movements and industry travel were already bringing additional activity to the city.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating. Key questions include what prompted the rejected takeoff, when the crew initiated it and what prevented the aircraft stopping within the available runway length. No engine failure, braking malfunction or crew error has yet been established as the cause.