All 9 people aboard a jet that crashed in Florida have died, transportation secretary says
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A business jet carrying nine people nose-dived into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday and erupted into a giant fireball that appeared to just miss homes before crashing near a busy roadway. All passengers on board were killed, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
A Learjet 60 carrying nine people tragically crashed in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The incident occurred at 12:50 p.m. local time and resulted in a devastating fireball that narrowly avoided nearby homes before impacting a busy road. The Federal Aviation Administration has dispatched a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation.
It is unclear at this time whether any individuals on the ground were injured or killed. The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to the Bahamas. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and authorities have not disclosed the identities of the passengers. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed that the flight was operated by a private jet and provided the tail number, N722BD.
Eyewitnesses captured the harrowing moment the jet plummeted from the sky, striking the ground near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, and exploding. Flames licked around the remnants of the aircraft, while thick black smoke filled the area. The crash site is situated close to homes and roads, prompting the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to close nearby roads and advise motorists to avoid the vicinity.
Emergency responders, including firefighters, were dispatched to the scene. A local resident reported that power in the area was out for approximately two hours following the incident. The full extent of any damage to nearby properties remains unknown as the investigation continues.
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