Learjet Crash in Palm Beach County Kills Nine
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Learjet 60 crashed on Sunday afternoon, resulting in nine fatalities, according to U.S. Transportation officials.
The private jet, which departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, crashed in a residential area around 2:41 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident.
Authorities reported the aircraft struck the ground near a road, creating a large crater and igniting a fireball. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “harrowing,” with debris scattered in all directions. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis termed the event a “massive tragedy.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the crash, with the FAA assisting. FAA records indicate the jet is owned by a Delaware corporation, and Bombardier, the aircraft's manufacturer, pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
Approximately 600 residents were evacuated from the nearby mobile home park as a precaution, with two local shelters activated for those displaced. The area was experiencing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms at the time of the incident, according to AccuWeather.
In the final moments before the crash, air traffic control communications revealed the crew reported “moderate” turbulence and ultimately declared a Mayday as the airplane began a rapid descent. The plane reportedly reached descent rates exceeding 32,000 feet per minute before impact.