Palm Beach County Jet Crash: All Nine Passengers Dead

All nine people aboard a business jet that crashed in South Florida on Sunday were killed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the death toll on social media, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy. The aircraft was a Learjet 60 that struck the ground in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m. local time. The plane had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas.

The crash site is located near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North in the city of Greenacres. Video captured by drivers showed the jet nosediving into the area before erupting in flames. Thick black smoke covered the scene, and large chunks of pavement lined the resulting crater. Witnesses described the impact as occurring feet from homes and inches from passing vehicles on a busy roadway.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground. He described the scene to reporters as a cataclysmic plane crash that looked like a missile going down. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported that the impact caused debris to scatter and damaged surrounding infrastructure. Local authorities have closed the affected road until further notice.

Air traffic control recordings indicate the pilots encountered difficult weather conditions prior to the crash. Rain pounded the region on Sunday, and a flood watch for excessive rainfall remained in effect through Monday afternoon. Minutes before the impact, the pilot reported light clear ice that was manageable and moderate turbulence. The turbulence was jolting the aircraft by as much as 700 feet, according to data captured by LiveATC.net.

The pilot requested to climb 2,000 feet after the jet, traveling at 35,000 feet, reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. The aircraft then entered a steep dive, initially losing altitude at 10,000 feet per minute. The descent rate accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute and then to 30,000 feet per minute, a speed that exceeded the plane's design limits.

The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls as the situation deteriorated. The jet banked sharply to the right before crashing steeply into the ground. Radio communications recorded the pilot stating the aircraft was in an overspeed condition and descending rapidly. In a final transmission, the pilot acknowledged the impending impact by stating the plane was going to crash into the ground.

Federal investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, identified the aircraft as a private jet but did not immediately provide details on the passengers. Authorities have not yet released the names of the nine individuals aboard.

Palm Beach County officials evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community. The sheriff's office is asking witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at 561-688-3375. The road remains closed while federal officials conduct their on-site examination.