Learjet 60 crashes in Palm Beach County killing all nine on board

A Learjet 60 business jet crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on the afternoon of November 1, 2026, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft, registration N722BD, had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.

Air traffic control recordings show the crew first reported manageable clear ice and moderate turbulence at high altitude, then issued a mayday as the plane entered a steep descent. The pilot reported an overspeed condition with descent rates reaching 20,000 feet per minute and more. The jet struck the ground near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, creating a crater and fireball close to homes and a mobile home community. No injuries were reported on the ground.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with FAA support. The aircraft was owned by a Delaware limited liability company. The plane was roughly 22 years old. Dashcam video captured the final moments of the near-vertical dive.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the impact as looking like a missile. Emergency crews secured the site. The crash occurred in the Greenacres-Cresthaven area, several miles from the former Palm Beach International Airport area. Investigators will examine icing conditions, turbulence, and the aircraft's systems.

The NTSB has dispatched a go-team. A media briefing is scheduled. The accident is under active investigation, with no determination yet on the precise cause of the loss of control.