Learjet 60 Crashes in Palm Beach County Florida Killing All Nine Aboard

A private Learjet 60 crashed on 1 November in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft, registration N722BD, had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

The crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres area. The jet left a deep crater and scattered burning debris across a roadway and into a nearby mobile home park. No injuries were reported on the ground.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the impact as a cataclysmic plane crash that looked like a missile coming down. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the nine fatalities and called the event a horrific tragedy. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Air traffic control recordings captured the final moments. The pilot reported ice accumulation, an outside air temperature of -47 degrees Celsius, and moderate turbulence while requesting a climb. Shortly afterward the pilot declared a mayday, stating the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute and then 20,000 feet per minute in an overspeed condition. The last transmission included the words we are out of time.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft lost roughly 27,000 feet in about one minute before impact. The 2004-vintage Learjet was owned by a Delaware corporation. Bombardier stated it would support the investigation.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and secured the site. Palm Beach County officials noted the crash occurred a few miles south of President Donald J. Trump International Airport. Cleanup and investigation work continued into 2 November.

The cause remains under investigation. Investigators are examining the reported icing conditions, turbulence, and the rapid loss of control. No preliminary findings have been released.

The crash is the latest in a series of business jet accidents under NTSB review. Families of those on board have not yet been publicly identified in full. Local authorities continue to support the federal investigation at the crater site.