Learjet 60 Kills All Nine in Palm Beach County Plunge

A private Learjet 60 nose-dived into a neighborhood and exploded near a busy road in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, killing all nine people aboard. The aircraft, which had departed Austin, Texas, for the Bahamas, fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute just before the crash. The FAA said the crash occurred at about 12:50 p.m. Eastern time.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as a "horrific tragedy" in a social media post. He stated that the Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to the scene to assist the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation. The NTSB said it was launching a go-team, with investigators expected to arrive Sunday and Monday morning. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.

The crash site is located near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North in Greenacres. The city has a population of approximately 45,000 and sits about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. The impact site is roughly four miles south of President Donald J. Trump International Airport, which was renamed earlier this year. CNN reported that President Trump was in West Palm Beach earlier Sunday and left the airport on Air Force One a little more than an hour before the crash.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and characterized the event as a "cataclysmic plane crash." He told reporters that it looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road. DeSantis praised local first responders for their rapid response and noted that the debris field extended over a considerable distance. He said there were no reports of ground casualties at the time of his press conference.

Video recorded by nearby drivers captured the jet striking the roadway and exploding. Flames flickered around pieces of pavement lining the crater, which was positioned feet from homes and inches from passing vehicles. Thick black smoke obscured the site, and WPBF video showed the road buckled where the jet hit it. The AP reported that the jet banked sharply to the right before hitting the ground at a steep angle.

Residents in the immediate vicinity reported intense physical sensations during the crash. Anthony Blackmon, who was about 500 feet from the crash, said debris hit his house and that the road and surrounding area were on fire. He noted that he had never expected such an event to occur so close to his home. Roger Forcelle stated that the aircraft passed directly over his house, shaking the structure before crashing less than half a mile away. Andrew Mannino heard a boom, experienced an immediate power outage, and saw a large black cloud rise into the air.

Air traffic control recordings indicate the jet was flying east at approximately 35,000 feet when the pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. They requested a climb of 2,000 feet. Minutes before the crash, the pilot told the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center that they had light, clear ice that was manageable and moderate turbulence. The pilot reported an outside air temperature of minus 47 degrees Celsius and turbulence that was bouncing the aircraft by up to 700 feet.

The situation deteriorated rapidly after the request to climb. The pilot radioed that the jet was descending at 10,000 feet per minute and declared a mayday. The descent rate increased to 20,000 feet per minute, and the pilot stated they were in an overspeed condition. The pilot then declared, "We're going to crash into the ground," and CBS News reported the pilot also said, "We're out of time." The AP reported that the descent rate reached as high as 30,000 feet per minute, pushing the aircraft beyond its design limits.

Flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange showed a drop of 27,000 feet in about one minute before the signal was lost. The FAA said the jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute just before impact. CNN reported that the jet passed through a stronger storm cell a few minutes before the descent began. The FAA had issued a convective SIGMET, a warning of thunderstorms that threaten aircraft, for the area. Heavy rain fell across the region on Sunday, and a flood watch was in effect through Monday afternoon.

About 600 residents in a nearby mobile home community had to leave their homes on Sunday night. County officials said the crash scene blocks the entrance to the mobile home park and is being treated as a crime scene while federal investigators work. No official has alleged a crime took place. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, who was the first county official on scene, said residents were being moved to two county shelters. He said the Red Cross was standing by, and county officials said Palm Tran buses were ready to carry residents once law enforcement allowed the evacuation.

Military Trail remains closed between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive until further notice, open only to emergency vehicles. The county advised drivers to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel and Haverhill Road and Kirk Road for north-south travel. A county commissioner warned that parts of the road could remain closed for an extended period due to the crater. The timeline for reopening depends on the federal investigation.

The N722BD Learjet 60 is owned by LR60271 LLC of Wilmington, Delaware, according to FAA registry data. The aircraft is listed online as available for charter flights. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, said the jet was a private aircraft and could not confirm who was on the flight. He called the incident "definitely a tragedy." The crash is the deadliest ever involving a Learjet 60, according to Flight Safety Foundation data. The previous deadliest incident involving the model occurred in 2008 in Columbia, South Carolina, killing four people.

Mary Schiavo, a CNN aviation analyst and former inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department, said dashcam video will be important to investigators. She noted that the descent was not controlled, indicating the pilots had lost control of the plane. Schiavo suggested the steep dive could have torn parts off the aircraft and that a flight recorder might have been destroyed in the explosion. It is unknown if the jet carried a cockpit voice recorder. FAA rules require multi-engine jets to carry one only when flown for hire, though records show this jet was offered for charter.