Learjet 60 N722BD Crashes Near Palm Beach County Killing All Nine Aboard

A Learjet 60, registration N722BD, crashed near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres-Cresthaven area of Palm Beach County, Florida, at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time on November 1, 2026. All nine people on board died. No injuries were reported on the ground.

The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas at 15:37 UTC bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. It is registered to LR60271 LLC, a Delaware entity. The jet is a 2004 model, serial number 60-271. Tracking data showed it at 35,250 feet shortly before the final descent.

Pilots reported light clear ice, moderate turbulence and precipitation. They requested a climb to 37,000 feet. After receiving clearance the pilot declared a mayday, stating the aircraft was in an overspeed condition and descending at 10,000 then 20,000 feet per minute. The last radio transmission included the words “we’re out of time.” Descent rates later exceeded 30,000 feet per minute. The aircraft fell from roughly 35,000 feet to 8,750 feet in about one minute before impact.

Dash-camera footage from nearby roads captured the final seconds of a near-vertical dive ending in a fireball and a deep crater in a mobile home park. The site lies about six miles from Mar-a-Lago and a few miles south of President Donald J. Trump International Airport. Trump had departed the area on Air Force One less than an hour earlier.

The National Transportation Safety Board launched a go-team. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed nine occupants. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the event as a horrific tragedy. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and local fire services secured the scene. Debris scattered across the roadway and nearby homes.

Aviation observers noted the unusually rapid descent is consistent with possible icing-related loss of control or structural issues, though the NTSB investigation remains open. The pilot had described manageable light ice and asked about better rides ahead. Outside air temperature was reported near -47 °C at altitude. A developing thunderstorm cell was present in the area, with tops rising rapidly.

The Learjet 60 is a mid-size business jet with a typical range suited to the Austin-to-Bahamas route. No preliminary cause has been released. Investigators will examine flight data recorders, cockpit voice recorders, maintenance records and weather data. The impact left a crater and extensive fire damage.

Local residents described a loud explosion and a column of smoke. Emergency responders extinguished the fire and searched the site. The roadway remained closed for investigation and recovery. No ground fatalities occurred despite the aircraft striking near homes.

The crash occurred on a Sunday afternoon with mixed weather across South Florida. ATC audio captured the progression from routine weather deviation requests to the final mayday. The sequence lasted only minutes from the climb clearance to loss of contact.

NTSB media briefings were scheduled for the following day in West Palm Beach. Full identification of those on board had not been released publicly in the first hours after the crash. The Delaware LLC registration leaves individual ownership details for further inquiry by investigators.