Nine people have died after a private Learjet crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the United States, triggering a massive explosion.
The aircraft, a Learjet 60, crashed on Sunday afternoon, November 1, near Lake Worth Beach, according to US transportation officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the jet had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft plunging towards the ground beside a road before bursting into flames.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard the aircraft were killed, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also described the crash as a major tragedy, saying the aircraft appeared like a missile as it descended before a massive explosion scattered debris across the area.
“When you see that video, it’s a jarring thing. It was like a missile coming down, and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere,” DeSantis said.
About 600 Residents Evacuated
The crash created a massive crater near the entrance to a mobile home park, according to Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores.
Authorities began evacuating approximately 600 residents from the affected area, relocating them to two shelters while emergency operations and investigations continued.
There were no immediate reports of casualties among people on the ground.
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were reported in the area around the time of the incident, although authorities had not established whether the weather contributed to the crash.
Pilot Reported Ice and Turbulence Before Crash
An audio recording of communications between the aircraft and air traffic controllers captured the pilot reporting ice accumulation and moderate turbulence shortly before the crash.
The pilot initially told air traffic control that the crew was managing the ice but experiencing turbulence and seeking smoother flying conditions.
Less than a minute later, the cockpit declared an emergency, with the pilot reporting that the aircraft was descending rapidly.
The reported descent rate increased from 10,000 feet per minute to 20,000 feet per minute.
At one point, the pilot was heard saying, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”
The final communication from the cockpit included the words, “We’re out of time.”
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft’s vertical descent rate briefly exceeded 32,000 feet per minute.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the crash, with support from the FAA.
The aircraft was a Bombardier-manufactured Learjet 60. FAA records identified its owner as a Delaware-registered corporation.
Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier said it would fully support the investigation and cooperate with authorities.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s final communications, flight-tracking information, weather conditions and available wreckage evidence to establish what caused the fatal crash.
The incident remains under investigation.
