A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning, resulting in one fatality and injuring seven others. The incident, which occurred at around 8:40 AM, quickly gained attention as several videos of the explosion went viral.
Footage shared online showed the Tesla Cybertruck bursting into flames while parked at the hotel entrance. One video, labeled “security footage,” appeared to show the vehicle igniting spontaneously, while another post simply read, “Tesla Cybertruck blows up in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas…” Numerous other videos, including one filmed from inside the hotel, captured the intense fire and the vehicle engulfed in flames.
According to a statement from a county spokesperson, the explosion was reported at the valet area of the hotel. A law enforcement official revealed that the Cybertruck was rented through the Turo app and contained a significant quantity of fireworks, which may have contributed to the blast.
The FBI has launched an investigation to determine whether the explosion was an act of terrorism. In the meantime, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to social media to address the incident, stating, “The entire Tesla senior team is investigating this matter. We’ll provide more information as soon as we know more. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Musk clarified that the explosion was unrelated to the Cybertruck’s design or manufacturing. “The explosion was caused by a large load of fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck,” Musk said. “All vehicle telemetry was normal at the time of the explosion.” Telemetry refers to the automatic collection and transmission of data from remote sources for analysis.
The blast tragically claimed the life of one individual inside the 2024 model-year Cybertruck. Seven others sustained minor injuries. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that both the Cybertruck and a vehicle involved in a recent attack in New Orleans had been rented through Turo.
This incident occurred just hours after a separate tragedy in New Orleans, where a man drove a truck into a crowd of New Year’s Day revelers, resulting in 15 fatalities.
