Private jet crashes in Florida neighborhood, killing all nine on board
A Learjet 60 descended at extreme speeds before impacting a residential street in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
By Luana Sato ·
A private jet crashed into a residential street in Cresthaven, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board.
The Learjet 60 originated from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Air traffic control data shows the aircraft was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. They requested to climb an additional 2,000 feet. Within moments, the plane began a steep dive.
Flight tracking data indicates the descent rate accelerated rapidly. It started at 10,000 feet per minute, then jumped to 20,000 feet per minute, and finally reached 30,000 feet per minute. This final speed exceeded the design limits of the aircraft. The jet struck the side of a road and exploded, creating a large fireball and a crater in the pavement.
Audio recorded by LiveATC from a Miami air traffic control center captured the final moments. A voice from the cockpit declared, "Mayday, mayday, we are descending 10,000 feet per minute." Seconds later, the pilot declared an emergency and reported a descent of 20,000 feet per minute. The voice stated, "We're going to crash into the ground," while noting the plane was banking 60 degrees. The final words heard were, "We are out of time."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the descent in local video footage as resembling "a missile going down." Videos show the plane making a loud whooshing sound as it rapidly drops toward the road. A thick plume of black and gray smoke rose above the houses, which were narrowly missed. Flames flickered around the crater left on the street.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the crash occurred at 12:50 p.m. local time and called the incident a "horrific tragedy." The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or determined the specific cause of the crash. There are no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores announced at a press briefing that approximately 600 residents are being evacuated from the area. Those displaced have been relocated to two shelters.
