Jet Plunges Near Roadway, Killing Nine
A Learjet 60 descended at 30,000 feet per minute before striking the ground in Greenacres, Florida, leaving a crater and evacuating 600 residents.
By Enzo Conti ·
A private Learjet 60 crashed into a neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday at 12:50 p.m., killing all nine people on board. The aircraft was headed to the Bahamas from Austin, Texas, when it entered a rapid descent near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities and described the event as a horrific tragedy. He stated that the Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.
Air traffic control recordings show the pilot reported icing and turbulence while cruising at 35,000 feet. The pilot requested a climb of 2,000 feet after encountering precipitation. Minutes later, the plane began a steep dive, dropping 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000, and finally 30,000 feet per minute. This speed exceeded the aircraft's design limits.
The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. Radio transmissions captured by LiveATC.net recorded the pilot stating, "We're descending 8,000, mayday, mayday, we're descending 10,000 feet per minute." The pilot later reported an overspeed condition at 20,000 feet per minute and acknowledged, "We're going to crash into the ground."
Video from drivers in nearby vehicles captured the jet plunging from the sky before exploding into a fireball. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site, and flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater. Witnesses described the scene as resembling a missile going down, according to Governor DeSantis.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo suggested that icing and turbulence could have caused the plane to stall. He noted that investigators will consider how the pilot responded to these conditions but will not rule out any factors at this early stage. The National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect due to excessive rainfall in the region.
Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. The road near the crash site remains closed until further notice. The NTSB expects investigators to arrive on Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled in West Palm Beach.
Greenacres is a city of 45,000 located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. Authorities have not yet identified the individuals on the flight. The crash site is in a residential area, with homes located feet from where the jet struck the ground.
