Learjet Crash: Nine Killed in South Florida
All passengers on a private jet from Austin, Texas, died when the aircraft crashed near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
By Aiko Lombardi ·
Nine people died when a business jet plunged into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday at 12:50 p.m. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the loss of life on social media, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy.
The aircraft, identified as a Learjet 60 with tail number N722BD, crashed near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the jet had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas.
Duffy stated that the FAA is dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in determining the cause of the crash. Authorities had not immediately identified the passengers or the specific mechanical or external factors that led to the accident. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the aircraft was private but could not provide passenger details immediately.
Witnesses inside nearby vehicles captured video of the jet diving from the sky before impacting the ground. The impact created a large fireball, and thick black smoke rose from the site. Flames flickered around broken pavement near a crater left by the crash. Bystanders gathered near the scene, expressing shock that the aircraft landed just feet from houses and inches from passing traffic.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed roads in both directions around the crash site and advised drivers to avoid the area. Firefighters and other emergency responders arrived quickly to manage the scene. It was not immediately clear if anyone on the ground was injured or if nearby homes sustained damage.
A woman working in the vicinity reported that electricity in the area had been cut off for approximately two hours following the impact. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash remained ongoing as of Sunday afternoon.
Reynolds reiterated the gravity of the event, calling it definitely a tragedy. The FAA and NTSB continue to coordinate their efforts to analyze the flight data and physical wreckage.
Source: WHDH
