Video shows moment Florida business jet turns into giant fireball, killing 9

A Learjet 60 business jet carrying nine people crashed into a residential area in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, January 1, 2026. The aircraft plummeted vertically into a busy road before exploding into a massive fireball, killing all nine individuals on board. The crash occurred near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, leaving a large crater in the roadway.

Footage captured by passing motorists shows the Learjet descending rapidly and disintegrating upon impact, with thick black smoke and flames engulfing the debris scattered across the road.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the tragic incident, stating that the crash took place at around 12:50 PM ET. The aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.

Air traffic control recordings reveal the crew's increasingly desperate communications with controllers as the private jet lost altitude shortly before impact. The pilot initially reported moderate turbulence and light ice, but the situation rapidly deteriorated, with the crew issuing mayday calls and describing an overspeed condition.

The final moments of the aircraft's life were marked by panic and distress as the terrified crew shouted, "Holy f--k, we're out of time."