Jet nosedives and erupts into fireball near busy roadway in South Florida. All 9 on board died
A pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. The plane banked sharply to the right before crashing to the ground.
A private jet crash in South Florida resulted in nine fatalities, transportation secretary Sean Duffy confirmed. The Learjet 60, en route from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas, plummeted near Cresthaven, Palm Beach County, US Airways spokesman Michael Boyd reported. The incident was captured on camera.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the crash occurred near Cresthaven, a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, approximately seven miles from Mar-a-Lago, AFP reported. The crash site is situated just outside Greenacres, Florida, Phillip Konz, the city's fire chief, told Bloomberg.
The Federal Aviation Administration is dispatching a team to the crash site to assist the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation, as reported by Sean Duffy. The Learjet had ascended to 35,000 feet when pilots reported turbulence, icing, and precipitation, leading to a request to climb 2,000 feet. Shortly after, the aircraft entered a steep dive, according to air-traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data cited by the Associated Press.
A pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls, followed by the plane executing a sharp right turn before crashing steeply into the ground.
Several unverified videos circulated on social media, showcasing the deadly crash, with the aircraft depicted nearly vertical, slamming into the ground at high speed and triggering a massive fireball, leaving a flaming crater near a busy roadside. NTSB officials are scheduled to hold a media briefing on Monday, according to the safety board.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as "cataclysmic," likening it to a missile landing and leaving a large crater on the side of the road. Approximately 600 residents are receiving assistance with temporary shelter and other essential needs, as reported by the sheriff's office. The aircraft departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, headed for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
