Nine people were killed after a private jet crashed into a neighbourhood in South Florida on Sunday, erupting into a massive fireball just feet from homes and vehicles along a busy roadway.
The Learjet 60 was heading to the Bahamas when it plunged from the sky and crashed near a road in Palm Beach County, narrowly missing nearby homes.
Videos recorded by motorists captured the aircraft’s terrifying descent before it struck the ground and exploded.
The impact left a crater surrounded by burning debris, while thick black smoke engulfed the crash site. People at the scene expressed shock that the aircraft had come down so close to homes and passing vehicles.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the aircraft crashed in Palm Beach County at 12.50pm, describing the incident as a ‘horrific tragedy’.
He said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would send a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with its investigation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.
‘It was a cataclysmic plane crash,’ he told reporters at the scene.
‘It looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.’
Pilot reported icing and turbulence before crash
According to the FAA, the aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas.
Authorities had not immediately identified those on board or established the cause of the crash.
Air traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft was flying east at 35,000 feet (about 11 kilometres) when the pilots reported turbulence, icing and precipitation.
The crew requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet (about 610 metres).
However, the aircraft subsequently entered a steep descent, initially dropping at 10,000 feet per minute before accelerating to 20,000 feet and eventually 30,000 feet per minute.
The aircraft’s speed exceeded its design limits as the situation deteriorated.
Minutes before the crash, the pilot had reported ice accumulating on the jet and turbulence causing altitude fluctuations of up to 700 feet (213 metres), according to recordings published by LiveATC.net.
‘We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,’ the pilot told air traffic controllers.
The pilot later declared an emergency and issued distress calls as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
‘We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,’ the pilot radioed.
The pilot subsequently reported that the aircraft was in an overspeed condition while descending at 20,000 feet per minute.
‘We’re going to crash into the ground,’ the pilot said.
The aircraft then banked sharply to the right before hitting the ground.
Investigators to examine possible causes
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed that the Learjet was a private aircraft but could not immediately provide details about its passengers.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said icing and turbulence could have contributed to the crash, potentially causing the aircraft to stall while cruising at 34,000 feet (10,363 metres).
He said investigators would examine various possible factors, including how the pilot responded to the icing and turbulence reported during the flight.
However, he cautioned against ruling out any possibilities at this early stage of the investigation.
The NTSB said investigators were expected to arrive at the crash site on Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.
Meanwhile, Palm Beach County authorities were evacuating about 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community as federal officials investigated the incident.
County officials said the affected road would remain closed until further notice.
The crash occurred in Greenacres, a city with a population of about 45,000 located approximately seven miles (11 kilometres) southwest of West Palm Beach.
The region was experiencing heavy rain on Sunday, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch due to excessive rainfall through Monday afternoon.
