A business jet carrying nine people has crashed into a residential neighbourhood in Florida, killing everyone on board and triggering an emergency response that forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.
The Learjet 60 went down at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County, shortly after departing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.
The aircraft was travelling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The impact left a large crater in the roadway, with burning debris scattered across the surrounding area. Authorities said no injuries were immediately reported among people on the ground.
However, the crash forced the evacuation of approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community as emergency crews secured the scene.
Recordings of the final communication between the aircraft and air traffic controllers have raised questions about the moments leading up to the disaster.
In the recording, a crew member reported moderate turbulence and said the pilots were managing ice accumulation on the aircraft. The crew also mentioned precipitation and requested permission to climb to a higher altitude.
Moments later, the pilot reported that the jet was descending rapidly, with the rate of descent reaching approximately 10,000 feet per minute before further deterioration.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s flight data, weather conditions and final communications to establish what caused the crash.
Authorities had not publicly identified the nine victims as investigations continued on Monday.
