Pilot Warns Thunderstorm May Have Played Key Role in Florida Jet Crash
Investigations into the Florida Learjet crash focus on weather conditions and pilot decisions as experts highlight the 20-mile storm buffer rule.
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A veteran pilot has urged investigators to closely examine the weather conditions surrounding the deadly Florida Learjet crash, suggesting that proximity to a thunderstorm may have played a critical role in the accident. Steve Scheibner, a former airline pilot and host of the Captain Steeeve YouTube channel, highlighted concerns about the crew’s adherence to safety protocols and the potential impact of severe weather on the flight.
Weather Conditions and Pilot Decisions Under Scrutiny
Scheibner pointed to the crew’s radio communications, which included reports of icing, moderate turbulence, and precipitation at approximately 35,000 feet. He emphasized that the environment should be a primary focus for investigators, stating, “The place they need to focus in on first is the environment. It looked like they flew into a thunderstorm, and the weather conditions I think are gonna have a big factor with why that airplane dropped out of the sky.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has noted that it is too early to determine whether the jet flew through an active thunderstorm. Scheibner, however, questioned whether the crew maintained a safe distance from the storm, pointing to the FAA’s recommendation to stay at least 20 nautical miles away from severe thunderstorms. “The FAA rule is 20 nautical miles away from any known thunderstorm, so you have to stay 20 nautical miles away. So you don’t try to fly over it and you certainly don’t fly through it,” he said.
Possible Icing and Radar Failures Under Investigation
Scheibner also raised concerns about the aircraft’s radar functionality and the crew’s ability to recognize the approaching storm. He suggested that icing conditions could have contributed to the plane’s loss of control, especially given the crew’s earlier reports of icing and precipitation. “If I was the NTSB investigating this, I would be looking at the icing component of it,” he said.
The jet reportedly plummeted from about 35,000 feet to under 9,000 feet in roughly one minute, with the crew declaring an emergency during the rapid descent. Scheibner cautioned that investigators still have significant questions to answer, including whether the aircraft’s radar was functioning, whether the pilots recognized the severity of the weather, and whether air traffic control played a role in the flight path.
The crash occurred on Sunday near West Palm Beach as the jet traveled from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas. All nine people aboard were killed, including tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson and his wife, Helen Sharp, their two young children, and other family members and friends.
Source: Daily Wire
