Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on 1 November, according to federal officials. The aircraft came down in a residential area near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, between Greenacres and Palm Springs, after departing from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
The business jet was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft struck the area at approximately 12:50 local time, causing fires and scattering wreckage over a wide area. Officials said there were no immediate reports of fatalities or injuries among people on the ground.
Investigation under way
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The cause of the accident had not been established when the reports were published, and investigators were examining the crash site while access roads remained closed.
Weather observations for the West Palm Beach area at the time included overcast conditions, rain and lightning. Winds were reported from the east at about 15 mph, with gusts reaching 25 mph, while visibility was reported at seven miles by the National Weather Service in Miami. Those observations are part of the circumstances recorded around the accident; they do not establish why the aircraft crashed.
| Aircraft | Departure | Destination | People aboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learjet 60 | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | North Eleuthera Airport | 9 |
Emergency response and closures
The impact caused extensive damage in the vicinity of the roadway and prompted a large response from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said emergency crews reached the scene quickly and helped secure it. He described the wreckage as covering a substantial distance and warned that road restrictions could remain in place while the investigation continued.
“It looked like a missile going down.”
The remark was made by DeSantis during a news conference as he described the crash. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also confirmed that everyone aboard had died, describing the event as a “horrific tragedy” in a social media post.
Authorities had not released the identities of those aboard in the reports. A spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said the aircraft was privately operated and that further information about the occupants was not immediately available. The airport identified the aircraft’s tail number as N722BD.
Information being gathered
Audio recorded by a Miami air traffic control centre captured the aircraft’s final moments before the crash, according to the reported details. Investigators will assess that material alongside the aircraft wreckage, operational records, weather information and other evidence gathered at the site.
- Accident: Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County on 1 November
- Fatalities: nine people aboard, according to federal officials
- Investigation: led by the NTSB with FAA support
- Flight: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to North Eleuthera Airport
The NTSB is expected to provide updates as the investigation progresses. No cause had been determined at the time of publication.
