Nine killed as private jet crashes in Florida

A private jet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine people on board after plunging from the sky and slamming into a road, where it burst into flames. The Learjet 60 was bound for the Bahamas. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that none of those aboard survived.

The crash occurred at around 12:50 pm local time on Sunday (November 1), near Crest Haven in the Greenacres area. The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said nine people were on board at the time of the crash.

No one on the ground was injured, but the crash caused extensive damage at the site. The impact left a large crater in the road, with debris scattered across the surrounding area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the severity of the incident, saying the aircraft appeared to be descending at tremendous speed, like a missile. Around 600 residents of a nearby mobile home community were evacuated to safety following the crash. Temporary shelter arrangements are also being made for them.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot had informed the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center about weather-related difficulties before the crash. Ice was forming on the aircraft, while moderate turbulence was making flying conditions challenging. The outside temperature at the time was minus 47 degrees Celsius. The pilot initially indicated that the situation was manageable but later requested permission to climb to a higher altitude as precipitation began.

Shortly afterwards, the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly. At one point, the pilot issued a Mayday distress call, telling air traffic controllers that the jet was descending at a rate of 10,000 feet per minute. As conditions deteriorated further, the pilot reported that the aircraft was dropping at 20,000 feet per minute. In his final warning, he said the aircraft was about to hit the ground.

According to flight-tracking website ADS-B Exchange, the aircraft lost approximately 27,000 feet in altitude in just one minute before contact was lost. The exact cause of the rapid descent has not yet been established. Adverse weather conditions, ice accumulation on the aircraft and the pilot's loss of control are among the factors being examined.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as a devastating crash and extended his condolences to the families of those killed. The FAA and NTSB have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the accident. Investigators will examine the aircraft wreckage, cockpit voice recorder and other evidence.

The crash is the second-deadliest aviation accident in the United States this year. In June, 12 people were killed when a skydiving aircraft crashed in the Butler area of Missouri.