Nine killed after jet plunges 30,000 feet in seconds
A Learjet 60 crashed into a roadway in Greenacres, Florida, killing everyone on board after pilots reported severe icing and turbulence.
By Jessica Abebe ·
A business jet carrying nine people crashed into a residential area in South Florida on Sunday, killing all occupants. The aircraft struck near a busy roadway in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, creating a large crater and a fireball that nearly touched nearby homes.
The Learjet 60 departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the time of the crash as 12:50 p.m. and described the event as a horrific tragedy. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board with the investigation.
The flight began normally, but conditions worsened as the jet climbed. Pilots reported encountering turbulence, icing, and precipitation while cruising at 35,000 feet. They requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet to escape the weather. Minutes before the crash, the pilot told air traffic control that the plane had light, clear ice and moderate turbulence that was jolting it by up to 700 feet.
The situation deteriorated rapidly after the pilot declared an emergency. Flight data showed the aircraft entered a steep dive, dropping 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute, and finally reaching 30,000 feet per minute. This speed exceeded the jet's design limits. The pilot radioed that the plane was in an overspeed condition and stated they were going to crash into the ground.
The jet banked sharply to the right before impacting the ground. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground. He described the crash as cataclysmic, noting that it looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.
Rain continued to fall on the region on Sunday, with a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon. Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. The roadway where the crash occurred remained closed until further notice. The city of Greenacres has a population of 45,000 and is located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo suggested that icing and turbulence could have caused the plane to stall. He noted that investigators will consider how the pilot responded to the reported weather conditions. The NTSB said its team was expected to arrive at the site on Sunday and Monday. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.
