Learjet 60 Crashes in Palm Beach County, Killing All Nine on Board

A private Learjet 60 registered N722BD crashed near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Palm Beach County, Florida, at about 12:50 p.m. local time on November 1, killing all nine people on board.

The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas earlier that morning bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Flight-tracking data showed it cruising at Flight Level 350 before beginning a rapid descent. Air traffic control recordings captured the crew reporting ice accumulation, moderate turbulence, and an outside temperature of minus 47 degrees Celsius. Moments later 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 final transmission was "We're out of time."

Dashcam video from a vehicle on the ground shows the jet descending nearly vertically before striking the ground and erupting in a fireball. The impact left a deep crater beside a mobile-home community and a commercial strip. Palm Beach County officials said about 600 residents were evacuated. No injuries were reported on the ground. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as cataclysmic and said it looked like a missile coming down.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the nine fatalities. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation. The aircraft is a 2004 Bombardier Learjet 60 owned by a Delaware limited liability company. One pilot was identified by her mother as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras of Boca Raton. Other passengers have not been publicly named as of November 2.

Investigators are examining the role of icing. The crew had reported managing ice and requested a higher altitude shortly before the descent. Icing on control surfaces can reduce effectiveness and, in severe cases, lead to loss of control. The NTSB will recover the flight data and cockpit voice recorders if they survive the impact. Preliminary analysis of ADS-B data indicates the jet lost roughly 27,000 feet in about one minute.

The crash site is roughly nine miles south of Palm Beach International Airport and within the broader Palm Beach County area. Local schools near the site closed on Monday. Federal investigators arrived Sunday evening. Bombardier said it would cooperate with the inquiry.

Business jet accidents involving rapid high-altitude descents are rare but not unprecedented. The NTSB's final report typically takes 12 to 18 months. In the meantime, the agency will issue factual updates on the aircraft's maintenance history, crew experience, and weather conditions along the route.

The flight originated as a private charter or owner-operated trip. Austin-Bergstrom records show a normal departure. No distress calls were logged until the final minutes. The Bahamas destination is a common private-aviation stop for the eastern United States.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the Sheriff's Office secured the scene within minutes. Debris was scattered across the roadway and adjacent properties. The crater and residual fires required extensive containment. Officials said the road remained closed into Monday.

Families of those on board have begun to be notified. The NTSB will lead the technical investigation while local authorities handle the human remains and site recovery. Weather at the time included clouds and precipitation aloft consistent with the icing reports.

The accident is the deadliest U.S. business-jet crash of 2026 so far. It will add to the record the NTSB maintains on icing-related events and high-speed descent recoveries. For now, the known facts center on the rapid loss of control after the crew reported ice and turbulence at cruise altitude.