PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida — Federal investigators are examining whether a business jet structurally broke apart in midair before crashing into a Florida residential area on Sunday, killing all nine people on board.
The Learjet 60 crashed near the Cresthaven neighborhood in Palm Beach County at approximately 12:50 p.m. EST, roughly nine miles from Mar-a-Lago, the resort home of US President Donald Trump. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine individuals on the aircraft died in the disaster. No injuries were reported on the ground, though the impact created a large crater, damaged local infrastructure including water lines, and prompted the evacuation of about 600 nearby residents.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight had departed from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas. Air traffic control audio recordings captured the cockpit crew reporting moderate turbulence and ice accumulation shortly before the tragedy. The pilot transmitted a distress call indicating a rapid descent of 10,000 feet per minute, followed quickly by a declaration of an emergency as the rate of descent accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute.
Local authorities noted that thunderstorms and heavy rain were present in the area at the time of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the ongoing investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the catastrophic breakup and impact.
