Business jet crashes in Florida neighborhood, killing all nine onboard
A Learjet 60 bound for the Bahamas plunged from 35,000 feet near Palm Beach after the pilot reported severe icing and turbulence.
At a glance
- A Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday at 12:50 p.m., killing all onboard.
- The pilot reported icing, turbulence, and precipitation before the jet entered a steep dive exceeding 30,000 feet per minute.
- No ground injuries were reported; about 600 nearby residents were evacuated while the NTSB and FAA investigate.
A business jet carrying nine people crashed into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday at 12:50 p.m., killing everyone on board. The Learjet 60, which had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas, nose-dived near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, erupting in a fireball that stopped just short of nearby homes and a busy roadway.
No injuries or deaths on the ground were reported, according to Governor Ron DeSantis, who described the scene as a "cataclysmic plane crash" that left a large crater. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it a "horrific tragedy" and confirmed the Federal Aviation Administration is supporting the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation.
Air traffic control recordings and flight tracking data show the aircraft was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation, requesting to climb 2,000 feet. Moments later, the jet entered a steep descent, reaching rates of 10,000 to over 30,000 feet per minute — exceeding its design limits. The pilot declared an emergency, reporting an overspeed condition and stating, "We're going to crash into the ground." Flightradar24 data indicated a peak descent rate above 32,000 feet per minute.
Minutes before the crash, the pilot told controllers the ice was "light, clear ice that is manageable" with moderate turbulence, but conditions deteriorated rapidly after encountering precipitation. Heavy rain had been falling in the region, with a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon.
About 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community were evacuated while federal investigators examine the wreckage. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office closed roads in both directions. FAA records list the aircraft's owner as a Delaware corporation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Questions and answers
- Where did the plane crash occur?
- The crash occurred near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Palm Beach County, Florida.
- What caused the jet to crash?
- The pilot reported severe icing, turbulence, and precipitation before the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent; the exact cause is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.
- Were there any injuries on the ground?
- No injuries or deaths on the ground were reported, according to Governor Ron DeSantis.
