Florida Business Jet Crash Kills Nine; Residents Need Shelter
A business jet crash in Florida has killed all nine people on board, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The crash gouged a deep hole in the ground beside a road, and authorities have set up shelter for hundreds of local residents.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the Learjet 60 went down near Crestheaven at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time. The flight originated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Duffy wrote on the social media platform X that all nine people aboard had died. He described the event as a “horrific tragedy” and said the FAA was sending staff to help the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the probe.
Duffy offered his condolences to the victims' families and said both federal agencies were keeping watch over the situation.
The FAA's initial statement confirmed nine people were on the aircraft but gave no word on their condition. Duffy's later comments made clear there were no survivors.
Until Sunday evening, authorities had not named the dead, disclosed how many were passengers or crew, or identified a specific reason for the crash.
The jet came down between Crestheaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, near Military Trail. Footage from local TV stations showed a blaze, dense smoke, and scattered wreckage on the road and in a nearby residential area.
Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the disaster as “terrible.” He told reporters, “It looked like a missile had dropped out of the sky. It has left a big crater by the side of the road.”
The governor said that by the time of his briefing, no one on the ground was reported dead or hurt. He added that debris had spread across a wide area and thanked emergency teams for their swift action.
Officials in Palm Beach County said around 600 people living near the crash site could need temporary housing while investigators and emergency crews work in the neighborhood.
County Commissioner Joel Flores said two shelters were on standby. County vehicles were being prepared to transport residents, and the American Red Cross was available to assist. Officials said the area may remain closed after Sunday.
The NTSB will send an investigation team to Florida, with members expected to arrive by Sunday or Monday. The agency also plans a media briefing in West Palm Beach on Monday.
Air traffic control recordings indicate pilots had reported ice formation and rain shortly before the aircraft began a rapid descent. Investigators have not determined whether those conditions contributed to the accident.
The Learjet 60 is a twin-engine business aircraft produced by Bombardier. Local media, referring to aviation records, said the crashed plane was registered as N722BD. Registered ownership records do not show who was operating the flight.
The NTSB investigates US civil aviation accidents to identify probable causes and recommend safety steps. Its preliminary reports contain factual findings, while final conclusions are drawn after reviewing wreckage, flight logs, weather data, and other evidence.