GREENACRES, Fla. — A Learjet carrying nine people crashed in a residential area near Cresthaven around 12:50 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Learjet 60 departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The FAA confirmed nine people were on board but noted that the information is preliminary and subject to change.
Governor Ron DeSantis visited the crash site, describing the incident as “cataclysmic” and stating the aircraft appeared “like a missile going down.” No injuries or fatalities among ground residents have been reported, although the debris field extended significantly.
Approximately 600 residents in a nearby mobile home community are expected to be relocated, as the crash site is classified as a crime scene. Shelters are being readied, and Palm Tran is set to assist in evacuations once law enforcement gives the all-clear.
Military Trail closed until further notice
Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive is closed to all but emergency vehicles. Law enforcement will manage traffic and assist residents.
Drivers are advised to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel, and Haverhill Road and Kirk Road for north-south routes.
County officials noted that the crash created a substantial crater and warned that parts of Military Trail may remain closed for an extended period, pending a federal investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).