All nine people aboard a business jet were killed when the aircraft crashed in a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday.1,2
The aircraft, identified as a Learjet 60, had departed from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas when it went down in the Greenacres and Cresthaven area, a short distance from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the deaths and said federal investigators were being sent to the scene.1,2
The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight had originated in Austin and was bound for the Bahamas. The Daily Wire, citing the Associated Press, said the jet had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The aircraft was described in that report as a $2 million Learjet 60 carrying nine people.1,2
The time and precise location were reported slightly differently. The BBC put the crash at around 12:50 EST near Cresthaven, some nine miles from Mar-a-Lago. The Daily Wire put the crash at around 1:00 p.m. ET in Greenacres, around eight miles southwest of the estate. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the crash happened "in the area of Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North."1,2
The jet hit trees and power lines as it went down, and appeared to crash in a busy road where it left a large crater. Video from a vehicle driving on the road shows the jet hitting the ground nose-first. The Daily Wire reported that the jet descended 35,000 feet in just 60 seconds.2
People nearby described the sound of the crash as sounding "like a missile," according to a New York Post account cited by the Daily Wire. A pilot who lives in South Florida and heard the crash told the Daily Wire that it appears either the jet malfunctioned, causing the pilot to lose control or there was a loss of cabin pressure, leading to the pilot becoming incapacitated.2
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a "mass casualty incident." "Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes," the sheriff's office said.1
Duffy described the crash as a "horrific tragedy." He said, "Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost — @FAANews & @USDOT are closely monitoring this crash and will share updates as we learn more."1,2
Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to the scene to support the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. He said the Transportation Department and the FAA were closely monitoring the crash and would share updates as more was learned.1,2
It remains unclear how the jet crashed. It was also not yet known whether anyone on the ground was killed or injured.2
