Learjet 60 Crashes in Florida, Killing All Nine on Board

A Bombardier Learjet 60 registered N722BD crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026, around 12:50 p.m. local time, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities and called it a horrific tragedy. No injuries were reported on the ground, though the impact left a deep crater and scattered debris across a mobile home park near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation with FAA support and dispatched a go-team to the site.

Flight data showed the jet climbed to about 41,000 feet after takeoff and maintained that altitude for roughly two hours before descending toward 35,000 feet near Naples. The pilot reported light clear ice that was manageable, moderate turbulence, and precipitation. The crew requested a climb to 37,000 feet and asked about better rides ahead. Immediately after receiving clearance, the pilot reported a sudden descent of 10,000 feet per minute. Seconds later the rate increased to 20,000 feet per minute, and the aircraft entered an overspeed condition. The final radio transmission ended with the words “we’re out of time.”

ADS-B data recorded a steep dive lasting roughly 77 seconds from cruise altitude. The aircraft passed 50 degrees nose-down by 18,000 feet and reached an estimated 65 to 70 degrees near the ground while traveling about 575 to 600 knots true. The encoded descent rate hit the transponder limit of 32,640 feet per minute. Dashcam footage from vehicles on the ground captured the near-vertical impact and the resulting fireball. Some observers noted the apparent absence of horizontal stabilizers in the final seconds, though investigators have not confirmed any structural failure.

The 2004 Learjet 60, serial number 60-271, was owned by LR60271 LLC, a Delaware entity listed at a registered-agent address. FAA records and Flightradar24 tracking matched the route and timing. The aircraft had arrived in Austin from Little Rock the previous day. Investigators are examining the role of icing, possible control-surface issues, pilot response to the overspeed, and the sequence of events leading to the loss of control. Weather conditions at the time included icing and moderate turbulence at altitude.

The crash occurred several miles south of President Donald J. Trump International Airport and Mar-a-Lago. Residents described hearing a sound like a missile before the explosion. About 600 people from a nearby mobile home community were expected to be relocated while the investigation continued. Nearby schools closed as a precaution. Governor Ron DeSantis and local officials held briefings confirming no ground casualties.

This marks one of the deadliest business-jet accidents in the United States in recent years. The NTSB has scheduled a media briefing in West Palm Beach. Preliminary findings are expected in the coming days as the probe examines wreckage, any available flight recorders, radar and ADS-B data, and weather conditions. The aircraft was destroyed on impact.

Business aviation safety groups have noted that Learjet 60 models have been involved in a small number of prior accidents involving control or icing issues, though each case differs. The NTSB’s final report, typically issued months later, will determine the probable cause. In the meantime, the investigation remains focused on the rapid transition from level flight at 35,000 feet to an uncontrolled dive.