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

A Learjet 60 business jet crashed into a residential area near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026, at about 12:50 p.m. local time, 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.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the nine fatalities and described the event as a horrific tragedy. Palm Beach County officials reported a massive crater near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The jet impacted nearly vertically and erupted into a fireball. No injuries were reported on the ground, though some residents were displaced and Military Trail was closed between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North.

Flight data showed the aircraft leveled at 35,000 feet before beginning a steep descent. Air traffic control recordings captured the crew reporting light clear ice that was manageable, moderate turbulence, and precipitation. They requested a climb to 37,000 feet for better conditions. Shortly after, the pilot declared a mayday, stating the plane was descending at 10,000 feet per minute and then 20,000 feet per minute in an overspeed condition. The final transmission was "We're out of time." Flightradar24 data indicated a vertical descent rate exceeding 32,000 feet per minute at one point. The entire fall from cruise altitude to impact took roughly 70 to 77 seconds according to ADS-B tracks.

The aircraft was a 2004 Learjet 60, serial number 271, owned by LR60271 LLC, a Delaware corporation. It had arrived in Austin from Little Rock the previous day. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with FAA support and sent a go-team to the site. Bombardier stated it would support the probe.

The crash site is roughly nine miles from Mar-a-Lago. Dashcam and social media video captured the final seconds of the near-vertical dive and the resulting fireball. Local fire rescue responded to several fires and scattered debris. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores noted the crater by the road near a mobile home park entrance.

Investigators are examining the role of icing, turbulence, and the sudden loss of control. The crew had reported outside air temperature around -47 degrees Celsius. No official cause has been determined. The NTSB typically releases a preliminary report within weeks. This is the second-deadliest aviation accident in the United States this year according to some records.

Family members of those on board have not been publicly identified in initial reports. The flight was a private operation. FAA records list the owner as the Delaware shell company. Local authorities continue recovery and investigation work at the site while residents in the area assess damage to nearby homes and vehicles.

Business jet accidents involving rapid high-altitude descents are rare but have occurred with various factors including weather, mechanical issues, or pilot incapacitation. The NTSB will review the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder if recovered, along with maintenance records for N722BD. The investigation remains ongoing as of November 2.