GREENACRES, Fla. (KEYE) — Federal investigators have completed on-scene work at the site of a Learjet crash that resulted in nine fatalities in Palm Beach County earlier this month.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), excavation continues at the impact site, while several areas where wreckage landed have been cleared. Affected locations include the Green Acres Mobile Home Community and John I. Leonard High School.
Investigators have identified and recovered parts of the Learjet 60, including both wings, engines, the flight deck, stabilizers, and other crucial components. Some pieces are being analyzed at the NTSB's laboratories in Washington.
The jet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas on the morning of November 1, targeting North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed near South Military Trail. Among the deceased were Austin tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his partner Helen Sharp, and their two children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras was also confirmed dead.
Witnesses reported that the crew requested a climb after encountering light clear ice and moderate turbulence at 35,000 feet. Shortly after, they made a mayday call, indicating the plane was descending rapidly.
The NTSB reported last week that three pieces of the plane's left elevator were located miles from the crash site, suggesting a possible pre-impact separation. The agency has not yet determined the cause of the crash, with weather conditions remaining a key focus of the investigation.
Residents with information about debris are urged to email witness@ntsb.gov for proper recovery arrangements. The NTSB emphasized that recovering all wreckage is vital for determining the crash's cause. Further updates can be found at discover.pbc.gov.