A millionaire tech CEO was killed during the fiery crash-landing of a private plane on a Texas highway Tuesday night.

Joshua Baer, the head of tech startup Capital Factory, was one of six pᴀssengers onboard the NetJets-operated Cessna Citation Laтιтude aircraft that burst into flames when it hit a Laredo highway upside down shortly after 10 p.m.

The crash happened on Texas State Highway Loop 20 near the US-Mexico border after the airport tower reported a private aircraft had a mechanical issue and lost contact with the plane, KGNS News reported.

The jet had departed San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, around 6:18 p.m. local time and was headed for Austin, Texas, before diverting to Laredo, according to FlightRadar24.

Police said the aircraft came down on the highway, struck a moving car, shut down traffic in both directions and scattered debris across multiple lanes.

Business and political leaders in Texas – where Baer was reportedly hailed as the “Godfather” of Austin’s startup scene – issued touching tributes to the late 50-year-old father-of-three Wednesday.