Learjet plunges from 35,000 feet, killing all nine in Florida crash
Air traffic control data shows the aircraft dropped 30,000 feet per minute after pilots reported ice and turbulence during a flight from Texas to the Bahamas.
By Talia Bennett ·
Nine people died when a private Learjet 60 crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday. The aircraft struck the ground near a busy roadway in Greenacres at 12:50 p.m., creating a large crater and a fireball that consumed the plane. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed all occupants were killed in the incident.
The jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was scheduled to fly to the Bahamas. It was cruising at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported encountering icing, turbulence, and precipitation. Air traffic control recordings indicate the pilot requested a climb of 2,000 feet to avoid the weather conditions before the aircraft began its rapid descent.
Flight tracking data reveals the plane entered a steep dive shortly after the request. The descent rate accelerated from 10,000 feet per minute to 20,000 feet per minute, and eventually reached 30,000 feet per minute. This speed exceeded the aircraft's design limits. The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls while the plane banked sharply to the right.
In a final radio transmission captured by air traffic control, the pilot stated, "We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute." The pilot added, "We're going to crash into the ground." Minutes before the impact, the crew reported light, clear ice and moderate turbulence that jolted the aircraft by up to 700 feet.
Video recorded by drivers near the crash site shows the aircraft plunging from the sky and exploding near homes. Thick black smoke rose from the wreckage as residents expressed shock over the proximity of the crash to their properties. Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community. The roadway was closed until further notice.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the event as a "cataclysmic plane crash." He noted that the aircraft left a large crater on the side of the road and said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground. DeSantis compared the appearance of the falling jet to a missile.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration. NTSB investigators arrived at the crash site on Sunday and Monday. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach. Authorities have not yet determined the specific cause of the crash or identified the individuals on board.
Steve Arroyo, an aviation safety expert, suggested that icing and turbulence likely contributed to the incident. He posited that these conditions may have caused the plane to stall while cruising at 34,000 feet. He noted that investigators will examine how the pilot responded to the reported weather conditions, though no factors will be ruled out at this early stage.
The crash occurred in Greenacres, a city of 45,000 people located about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. Rain was falling in the region at the time of the crash. A flood watch due to excessive rainfall remained in effect through Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
