Plane Crash Kills Nine in Palm Beach County
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — A Learjet 60 crashed on Military Trail at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, killing all nine people onboard.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion as the jet descended rapidly before crashing into the roadway, creating a large crater. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed one person on the ground sustained a leg injury.
Authorities have not officially identified the victims, but family members confirmed eight individuals, including Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, and their two children, ages 4 and 2. The co-pilot, 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, was also confirmed among the deceased.
The NTSB is investigating the incident and noted that recovery efforts are complicated due to extensive debris and potential wreckage spread. “The biggest obstacle is recovering the major wreckage from the impacted area,” said NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Tim Monville.
Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft reported severe icing conditions prior to its descent. Filgueiras made a distress call, claiming, “We’re descending 10,000 feet per minute!”
The crash took place near an area recently renamed for former President Donald Trump, prompting road closures and the need for temporary shelters for displaced residents.
The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days, with a full investigation potentially taking up to two years.