A Learjet 60 business jet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was en route to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the crash occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time near the unincorporated community of Cresthaven, just outside the city limits of Greenacres.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials, the pilot communicated with Miami air traffic controllers shortly before the crash, reporting challenging weather conditions including rain, light clear ice, and moderate turbulence. The pilot requested to climb to 37,000 feet before suddenly declaring a mayday, indicating a life-threatening emergency. In frantic transmissions, the pilot described the plane descending rapidly—at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute—and expressed fear that they were going to crash.
Video footage captured by motorists showed the plane plunging nose-first into the ground near a busy roadway, where it exploded in a fiery blast, leaving behind a large crater. The wreckage scattered debris over a wide area, but authorities did not report any injuries to people on the ground. Some residents living near the crash site in a mobile home park were evacuated to emergency shelters as a precaution. Power outages were also reported in the vicinity following the incident.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the event as a “horrific tragedy” and confirmed that no one on board survived. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the crash as “cataclysmic,” noting the extensive damage to the crash site, which resembled the impact of a missile. Officials have not released the identities of the victims.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash. A team from the FAA has been dispatched to support the NTSB in their work. Representatives from Bombardier, the manufacturer of the Learjet 60, said the company is cooperating with investigators but could not comment on any potential causes at this stage.
Eyewitnesses near the scene described hearing a loud noise and seeing debris falling like rain before observing the fireball and smoke cloud. Authorities have not provided details about any damage to nearby homes or vehicles, and it remains unclear whether the crash caused additional property damage or injuries beyond those on the aircraft.
The circumstances leading to the emergency and subsequent crash remain under investigation, with officials reviewing pilot communications, weather conditions, and mechanical factors.