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A business jet carrying nine people nose-dived into a South Florida neighborhood and erupted into a giant fireball that appeared to narrowly miss homes near a busy roadway. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that everyone on board the aircraft was killed in the accident.
Crash Site and Official Response
Witnesses inside vehicles recorded the aircraft plunging from the sky before striking near a Palm Beach County roadway and exploding. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site, leaving flames flickering around pavement chunks lining a crater while bystanders expressed shock that the plane landed only feet from residences and passing vehicles.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on X that the Learjet 60 crashed at 12:50 p.m. and called the event a horrific tragedy. He noted that the Federal Aviation Administration is deploying a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board investigation.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reported that no injuries or fatalities were immediately recorded on the ground. Describing the event at the scene, he said it was a cataclysmic plane crash that resembled a missile descending and left a large crater beside the road.
The National Weather Service reported that rain pounded the region on Sunday, with a flood watch remaining in effect through Monday afternoon. The Federal Aviation Administration stated the aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas, though authorities did not immediately disclose the identities of the passengers or the cause of the disaster.
Flight Details and Emergency Radio Calls
Flight tracking data and air traffic control recordings indicated the plane was traveling east at 35,000 feet when the crew reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation, requesting permission to climb another 2,000 feet. Shortly afterward, the aircraft entered a steep dive reaching 10,000, 20,000, and up to 30,000 feet per minute, exceeding its design limits.
A pilot declared an emergency, issued distress calls, and banked sharply right prior to the impact. Recordings captured by LiveATC.net showed the pilot reporting ice accumulation and severe turbulence jolting the jet by as much as 700 feet minutes before the crash.
The pilot told air traffic controllers they had manageable light clear ice and moderate turbulence, but conditions worsened rapidly after precipitation began. The pilot radioed distress calls, stating they were descending at rates of 10,000 and 20,000 feet per minute in an overspeed condition before delivering a final warning that they were going to crash into the ground.
Investigation and Local Impact
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the jet was a private flight but could not immediately provide passenger details. Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert, suggested that icing and turbulence could have contributed to the accident by potentially causing the plane to stall at cruising altitude.
Arroyo added that the NTSB will evaluate all potential factors, including pilot responses to the reported weather conditions, without ruling anything out at this early stage. The NTSB announced that investigators would arrive at the site on Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach County sheriff’s officials stated the crash occurred in Greenacres, a city of 45,000 residents located about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community during the federal investigation, and county officials announced the roadway will remain closed until further notice.
