Nine people dead as jet crashes in Florida neighbourhood
A business jet carrying nine people nosedived into a neighbourhood in Florida and erupted into a giant fireball that appeared to just miss homes before crashing near a busy road.
A Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed in a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, killing all on board, according to the US Transportation Secretary. The plane, which had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, was en route to the Bahamas when it encountered severe weather conditions. Pilots reported experiencing turbulence, ice accumulation, and heavy precipitation, prompting them to request an emergency climb to 2,000 feet.
Despite the pilot's declaration of an emergency, the plane entered a steep dive, accelerating at speeds exceeding its design limits. The crash occurred near Cresthaven, Florida, in Palm Beach County, with the aircraft striking the ground near a busy road and exploding, creating a crater surrounded by thick black smoke. No immediate reports of injuries or fatalities outside the plane were released, and the airspace was subsequently evacuated.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. Governor Ron DeSantis described the incident as a "horrific tragedy," emphasizing the impact of the crash on the local area.
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