Nine killed as business jet crashes beside road in Palm Beach County

All nine people aboard a business jet died Sunday when the aircraft plunged into a neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, and exploded beside a busy road, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. The crash occurred near homes and passing vehicles in Palm Beach County, about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach.

Duffy said on X that the Learjet 60 went down at 12:50 p.m., describing the crash as a “horrific tragedy.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries on the ground. Video taken by people in cars showed the aircraft diving toward the roadway before a large explosion sent thick black smoke over the area.

The impact left a crater beside the road, with flames burning around broken pavement. People gathered nearby expressed shock at how close the aircraft had come to houses and moving vehicles. Speaking to reporters at the scene, DeSantis compared the plane's descent to a missile and described the large crater it left.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the jet had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling to the Bahamas. Airport spokesperson Jim Reynolds confirmed that it was a private aircraft but could not immediately provide information about its occupants. Authorities had not immediately identified those aboard or determined what caused the crash.

Air traffic control recordings and flight tracking data showed that the aircraft was traveling east at 35,000 feet when its pilots reported turbulence, ice and precipitation and sought permission to climb another 2,000 feet. In recordings captured by LiveATC.net, a pilot described ice accumulation as manageable and said turbulence was jolting the aircraft by as much as 700 feet.

Conditions then worsened quickly. A pilot declared an emergency and transmitted distress calls as the jet began descending rapidly. Data and recordings indicated that its descent accelerated from 10,000 feet per minute to 20,000 and then as much as 30,000 feet per minute, taking the aircraft beyond its design speed limits. The jet banked sharply right before striking the ground.

Heavy rain affected the region Sunday, and the National Weather Service said a flood watch for excessive rainfall would remain in effect through Monday afternoon. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said icing and turbulence were possible factors and could have caused a stall. He emphasized that investigators would examine numerous possibilities, including the pilot's response to the reported conditions, without ruling anything out at this stage.

The National Transportation Safety Board said investigators were expected at the site Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach. Duffy said the FAA was sending a team to assist the investigation.

Palm Beach County authorities were evacuating approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community while federal officials investigated. County officials said the road would remain closed until further notice. Sheriff's officials identified the crash location as Greenacres, a city of 45,000 residents.