Nine Dead as Learjet Crashes Into Palm Beach County Neighborhood
All aboard a business jet were killed Sunday after the aircraft lost altitude rapidly and crashed near Military Trail in Greenacres.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Sunday, November 1, that a business jet crashed into a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida. The crash killed all nine people on board the aircraft.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the Learjet 60 exploded near a busy road in the neighborhood. The Federal Aviation Administration reported the crash occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern time. The jet had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas with a destination of North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the incident. NTSB officials said Sunday they were launching a go-team. Investigators were scheduled to arrive on Sunday and Monday morning, with a media briefing planned for Monday in West Palm Beach. No cause for the crash had been determined at the time of the announcement.
The aircraft was identified by the registration number N722BD. FAA registry data lists the jet as owned by LR60271 LLC, a company based in Wilmington, Delaware. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, described the jet as a private aircraft. He said he could not say who was on the flight. Officials had not released the names of the nine people killed or said how many were passengers and how many were crew.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office located the crash site near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North. The specific location is in the city of Greenacres, a community of approximately 45,000 residents. This site is situated about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach and four miles south of the local airport, which was renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport earlier in the year.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the crash site and described the event to reporters. He said the plane appeared to fall like a missile and left a large crater on the side of the road. DeSantis stated there were no initial reports of ground casualties and praised the response of local first responders. He noted that the debris field stretched over a long distance.
Air traffic control recordings indicate the jet was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation. The crew requested a climb of 2,000 feet. Minutes before the crash, the pilot informed the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center that the aircraft was experiencing light, clear ice that was manageable and moderate turbulence. The pilot reported an outside air temperature of minus 47 degrees Celsius and vertical movement of up to 700 feet.
The situation deteriorated rapidly after the request to climb. The pilot radioed that the jet was descending and declared a mayday. The descent rate increased to 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute, with the pilot reporting an overspeed condition. The pilot stated, "We're going to crash into the ground." The AP reported the aircraft banked sharply to the right before impact.
The FAA reported that the jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute prior to the crash. Flight tracking site ADS-B Exchange recorded a drop of 27,000 feet in about a minute before the data signal was lost. The aircraft hit the ground at a steep angle near the roadway.
Witnesses in nearby vehicles captured video of the jet plunging from the sky and exploding. Flames surrounded chunks of pavement lining the crater, which was located feet from homes and inches from passing vehicles. Thick black smoke covered the site. Video from local station WPBF showed the road buckled at the point of impact.
Anthony Blackmon, a resident living about 500 feet from the crash, reported that debris was everywhere and struck his house. Roger Forcelle stated that the aircraft passed over his home, shaking the structure. Andrew Mannino said that he heard a boom, lost power, and saw a large black cloud rise into the air. Another witness described the scene as resembling a meteor strike.
Approximately 600 residents of a nearby mobile home community were required to leave their homes on Sunday night. The crash scene blocks the entrance to the park and is being treated as a crime scene while federal investigators work, county officials said. No official has alleged that a crime took place. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said residents were being moved to two county shelters. Palm Tran buses were on standby to transport residents once law enforcement cleared the path.
County officials closed Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive to all traffic except emergency vehicles. Drivers were advised to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane/Alameda Drive for east-west travel. Haverhill Road and Kirk Road were recommended for north-south travel. A county commissioner warned that the road could remain closed for an extended period due to the crater and the ongoing investigation.
Scattered storms were present in the area at the time of the crash. The jet passed through a stronger storm cell minutes before the descent began. The FAA had issued a convective SIGMET, warning of thunderstorms that threaten aircraft, in the region. Whether the weather contributed to the crash has not been determined. The National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon.
Mary Schiavo, an aviation analyst and former inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department, said the steep dive indicated the pilots lost control of the plane. She noted that dashcam video would be important for investigators. It is not known if the jet carried a cockpit voice recorder. FAA rules require multi-engine jets to carry one only when flown for hire, and records show this jet was available for charter.
This crash is the deadliest incident involving a Learjet 60 according to Flight Safety Foundation data. The NTSB records show it is the second deadliest crash in the United States this year, following a skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, in June that killed 12 people. Bombardier, the Canadian manufacturer, stopped building new Learjets in 2021 but continues to support the planes in service.
