The private jet was flying from Texas to the Bahamas when it plunged into a residential area of Palm Beach County. Dashcam footage captured the aircraft’s final moments, while around 600 residents were evacuated from a nearby mobile home community.
All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 were killed when the private aircraft crashed into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, November 1, officials said.
The jet departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven, in the Greenacres area, at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that nobody aboard survived.
“This is a horrific tragedy,” Duffy said in a social media statement, asking the public to keep the victims’ families and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers.
The identities of the nine victims have not yet been released.
Dashcam captures the moment of impact
Dramatic dashcam footage captured the aircraft plunging toward the ground at high speed before erupting into a massive fireball. Thick clouds of smoke and flames rose above the crash site.
Images from the aftermath showed a large crater in the roadway, surrounded by burning debris.
Distressing air traffic control recordings also captured the crew’s final communications. A woman aboard the aircraft can be heard declaring an emergency and reporting an extremely rapid descent.
“Mayday, mayday. We’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” she said.
In subsequent transmissions, the descent rate was reported to have accelerated dramatically. The crew also described icing, moderate turbulence and precipitation shortly before the aircraft went down.
The pilot had reported encountering “light, clear ice,” initially describing the conditions as manageable. The crew later reported precipitation and requested to climb to a higher altitude.
The exact sequence of events and the cause of the crash remain under investigation.
DeSantis calls crash ‘cataclysmic’
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the incident as “cataclysmic” while speaking to reporters at the scene.
“It looked like a missile going down. It left a big crater on the side of the road,” DeSantis said.
He said the aircraft scattered debris over a considerable area but that officials had received no reports of people on the ground being killed or injured.
The crash occurred near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. Authorities closed the road in both directions and urged drivers to avoid the area.
Around 600 residents evacuated
The impact and subsequent emergency response forced officials to evacuate a nearby mobile home community.
Joel Flores, commissioner for Palm Beach County’s 3rd District, said approximately 600 residents needed temporary shelter.
“We have about 600 people that we have to make sure that they have shelter tonight,” Flores said.
Emergency services and local authorities worked to arrange accommodation for displaced residents as investigators secured the crash site.
Federal investigation underway
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation.
The aircraft was registered to a limited liability company based in Delaware, according to FAA records.
Bombardier, the manufacturer of the Learjet, expressed condolences to those affected.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to all those affected,” the company said in a statement.
Bombardier added that it would fully cooperate with investigators and would not comment on the possible cause until the investigation is complete.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to lose altitude so rapidly. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight data, weather conditions and communications with air traffic control.
