Nine dead as Learjet crashes into Greenacres neighborhood

All nine people aboard a private business jet died when the aircraft crashed into the Greenacres neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the incident as a horrific tragedy. The Learjet 60 was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it struck the ground near a busy roadway at 12:50 p.m.

The flight departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the airport, identified as a private aircraft. Officials did not immediately release names of those on board. The plane was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported encountering turbulence, icing, and precipitation. The crew requested to climb an additional 2,000 feet to avoid the weather conditions.

Within moments, the aircraft entered a steep dive. Air traffic control recordings show the descent rate accelerating from 10,000 feet per minute to as high as 30,000 feet per minute, a speed that pushed the jet beyond its design limits. The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. In one transmission, the pilot stated, “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” followed by the words, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”

Video recorded by drivers on the roadway captured the jet plunging from the sky and exploding into a fireball. The impact created a crater in the pavement, with debris and black smoke surrounding the site. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who visited the scene, described the event as a cataclysmic plane crash that looked like a missile descending. He noted that there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.

Rain had been falling heavily in the region on Sunday, with a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon. Despite the weather, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo suggested that icing and turbulence could have contributed to the crash, potentially causing the plane to stall while cruising. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration providing support. Investigators are scheduled to arrive at the site on Sunday and Monday.

Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a mobile home community located near the crash site. The roadway remains closed until further notice. A media briefing is set for Monday in West Palm Beach. The crash occurred in Greenacres, a city of 45,000 people situated about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach.