Business Jet Crashes in South Florida, Killing Nine
A business jet carrying nine people crashed in a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday, killing everyone aboard, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The Learjet 60 went down in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m., near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. Federal authorities are investigating the cause.
The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the Austin airport, confirmed that it was a private aircraft but said he could not immediately provide information about the people on board. Authorities had not identified those aboard or announced a cause for the crash.
Video recorded by people inside nearby vehicles showed the jet descending sharply before striking the ground near a busy road and bursting into flames. The crash site was close to houses and passing traffic. Images from the scene showed a crater, scattered debris and thick black smoke. It was not immediately clear whether any homes had been damaged.
Firefighters, law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel responded to the scene. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed roads in both directions near the crash site and advised motorists to stay away. A woman working nearby said electricity in the area had been out for about two hours after the crash. Authorities had not immediately provided information about possible injuries on the ground.
Duffy described the incident as a tragedy in a post on X. He said the FAA would send a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. The circumstances of the crash remained unknown in the immediate aftermath, including what happened during the flight before the jet descended. Officials had not released the occupants’ identities.