Nine killed in Florida plane crash

A business jet crashed in a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, killing all nine people on board, according to the U.S. Transportation Secretary. The crash occurred near the luxurious resort of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach County, approximately 12:50 EST (17:50 GMT). Images from the scene reveal a crater-like mark on a residential road, with areas of fire and debris from the Learjet 60 scattered.

The aircraft had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. Unverified footage posted on social media appears to capture a dash-camera recording of the crash, showing vehicles on a suburban street suddenly being overtaken by an aircraft descending vertically into the ground and exploding into a large fireball.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as a "missile coming down" and a "massive explosion," noting that debris was scattered everywhere. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the incident as a "horrific tragedy" and reported that the FAA is sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has declared a mass casualty incident, and 600 local residents have been evacuated from a nearby trailer park community. The crash caused significant damage to local infrastructure, including water lines, with the road expected to be closed for at least 30 days. Thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time of the crash, and heavy rain was occurring during the news conference.