Florida Jet Crash Kills 9, Officials Confirm
A Learjet crashed in Palm Beach, Florida, killing nine people. Officials investigate the cause.
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A Learjet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing nine people, according to officials. The private jet, a twin-engine Learjet 60, was en route to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North.
Crash Details and Pilot Reports
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the plane descended rapidly from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in under a minute, at a rate of approximately 350 feet per second. Moments before the crash, air traffic control recordings indicated the pilot reported ice buildup and moderate turbulence, with altitude swings of up to 700 feet.
The pilot later declared an emergency, stating the aircraft was descending at 8,000 feet per minute and warned of an overspeed condition, with the plane descending at 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot said they were “going to crash into the ground.”
Impact and Aftermath
Footage showed the jet plummeting from the sky and bursting into a ball of flames upon impact. The crash left a crater near a shopping center in Palm Beach. Authorities have not yet confirmed if there were any casualties on the ground.
The crash site has been cordoned off, with multiple roads closed around the area. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the location of the crash and advised drivers to avoid the area.
State Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as “looking like a missile going down” in his comments following the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted this crash is the second deadliest in the United States this year, after a skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, which killed 12 people in June.
Investigation and Next Steps
The cause of the crash is under investigation, with officials focusing on the rapid descent and the pilot’s emergency declaration. The FAA and NTSB are expected to release more details in the coming days as the investigation continues.
Source: OANN
