A private jet crashed on Sunday in the residential area of Crestview located in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all 9 passengers on board.
Details of the Incident
The Learjet 60 suddenly dove down and crashed to the ground. Videos shared on social media show the jet falling to the ground with a loud noise, and upon impact with the earth, large flames erupted into the air.
The crash of this jet was so sudden and severe that, according to Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, it resembled "a falling missile." Black and gray smoke rose from the crash site and did not damage nearby homes.
Cause of the Incident and Investigations
The jet had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the jet was flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet (about 10,660 meters) when pilots reported instability, icing, and precipitation, and requested to climb to 2,000 feet (about 610 meters).
Minutes later, the jet fell sharply, initially diving at a rate of 10,000 feet per minute and then at 20,000 feet per minute, reaching speeds that exceeded the jet's design limits. In the final moments before the crash, a voice from the cockpit can be heard saying, "We are falling at 10,000 feet per minute" and then declaring an emergency.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the incident occurred at 12:50 local time and described it as "a horrific tragedy." The cause of the crash and the identities of the passengers have not yet been determined, and the National Transportation Safety Board has begun its investigation into the matter.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities on the ground. Joel Flores, the Palm Beach County Commissioner, announced at a press conference that about 600 people from the area have been evacuated and moved to two shelters.
