A private Learjet 60 carrying nine people plunged into a South Florida neighbourhood and exploded into a massive fireball, leaving a huge crater near a busy roadway in Greenacres, Florida. All nine people aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash, while authorities reported no immediate casualties on the ground.Dramatic videos recorded by motorists captured the aircraft nosediving towards the ground before erupting into flames near homes and passing vehicles. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site, while burning debris and chunks of pavement were scattered around the crater.Describing the impact, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the aircraft appeared to come down like a missile.“It was a cataclysmic plane crash,” DeSantis told reporters at the scene. “It looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.”US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard had died. In a post on X, he said the Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County at 12:50 pm and described the incident as a “horrific tragedy”.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in investigating the crash. Authorities have not yet established what caused the aircraft to go down.
What happened in the jet’s final moments?
Air traffic control recordings have provided a glimpse into the aircraft’s final moments, with the pilot reporting icing, turbulence and precipitation before the jet entered a steep descent.According to flight tracking data and air traffic control communications captured by LiveATC.net, the aircraft was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported turbulence and ice accumulation. The crew requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet.“We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,” the pilot told air traffic controllers.However, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The aircraft began losing altitude at an accelerating rate, with its descent reaching 10,000 feet per minute before increasing to 20,000 feet and eventually 30,000 feet per minute, according to flight tracking data and air traffic control recordings.The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls as the aircraft continued its rapid descent.“We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed.Moments later, the pilot reported that the aircraft had entered an overspeed condition, indicating that it was exceeding its operating speed limits.“We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed, before adding, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”The aircraft then banked sharply to the right before plunging into the ground near the roadway.
What we know about the Florida plane crash
According to the FAA, the Learjet 60 had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the Austin airport, confirmed that the aircraft was privately operated but could not immediately provide details about those aboard.The crash occurred in Greenacres, a city of around 45,000 people located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.Palm Beach County authorities began evacuating around 600 people from a nearby mobile home community as emergency teams responded to the incident and federal officials prepared to investigate.Authorities also closed the affected roadway until further notice. DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.The crash occurred amid heavy rainfall across the region, with the National Weather Service having issued a flood watch due to excessive rainfall through Monday afternoon.