Photo: 12george1 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
All nine people on board a private Learjet 60 were killed on Sunday when the jet plunged almost straight down onto a busy road in Palm Beach County, Florida, and burst into flames a short distance from homes. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the toll and called the crash a horrific tragedy. The jet went down at around 12:50 pm local time (about 11:20 pm IST) near Cresthaven, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
From Austin to the Bahamas
The aircraft, registration N722BD, had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was flying to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, the FAA said. An airport spokesperson described it as a private flight. FAA records show the jet is registered to a limited liability company in Delaware. Officials have not named those on board or said how many were crew and how many were passengers.
Dashcam and phone videos from passing cars showed the jet diving into the roadside near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North and exploding into a fireball. The impact left a burning crater in the pavement, with debris scattered over a wide area and thick black smoke over the neighbourhood. Power went out in parts of the area for around two hours.
Mayday in the final minutes
Air traffic control audio released after the crash suggests the emergency unfolded within minutes. A crew member first reported light, clear ice that she described as manageable, along with moderate turbulence and precipitation, and asked to climb higher. About two minutes later she declared a mayday, saying the jet was descending at 10,000 feet a minute and then 20,000 feet a minute, before saying the aircraft was going to hit the ground.
A flood watch was in force across southern Florida on Sunday, with showers and scattered thunderstorms forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Investigators have not linked the weather to the crash, and no cause has been established.
It looked like a missile going down. It left a big crater on the side of the road.
Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida
No casualties reported on the ground
Governor DeSantis said there were no reports of anyone on the ground being killed or injured, though debris spread over a significant distance. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed Military Trail in both directions. County commissioner Joel Flores said residents of a nearby mobile home park were being moved out, and that about 600 people needed shelter for the night.
Learjet maker Bombardier said it was deeply saddened and would fully support the investigation, but could not comment on a possible cause until it is complete.
What happens next
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with an FAA team supporting it. NTSB investigators were due to reach the site on Sunday night and Monday, and the board said it planned a media briefing on Monday. Investigators will examine the wreckage, the radio exchanges with controllers, weather data and the aircraft’s maintenance history. The NTSB usually releases a preliminary report within about a month, while a final finding on the probable cause typically takes one to two years.
