9 aboard business jet killed in South Florida crash, officials say
All nine people aboard a business jet were killed on Nov. 1 when the aircraft crashed into a mobile home neighborhood in South Florida and erupted in flames, federal officials said.
The Learjet 60 crashed about 12:50 p.m. ET near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Palm Beach County, in an unincorporated area between Greenacres and Palm Springs. The crash sparked several fires, scattered debris across a wide area, and caused extensive damage.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas, and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard were killed, calling the crash a "horrific tragedy" in a social media post.
During a brief news conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described the accident as a "cataclysmic plane crash."
"It looked like a missile going down," he said. "It left a big crater on the side of the road."
DeSantis praised first responders from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, saying they arrived quickly and helped secure the area. There were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground injured or killed in the incident, but DeSantis said the "debris was significant and it went over a pretty significant distance."
He said state and local officials have been in contact with federal aviation authorities and warned that road closures along Military Trail are likely to remain in place for the "foreseeable future" while investigators examine the scene.
The cause of the crash was unknown. Weather conditions in the West Palm Beach area at the time of the crash were overcast, with rain and lightning reported. Winds were from the east at about 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. The National Weather Service in Miami reported visibility of seven miles.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide updates.
Cockpit audio captures final moments before crash
An audio recording from a Miami air traffic control center captured the aircraft's final moments before the crash. The recording posted by LiveATC, a website that broadcasts air traffic control communications, captured a person in the cockpit reporting they were "managing the ice," encountering "moderate" turbulence and seeking "better rides."
Less than a minute later, the person issued a mayday call and reported the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute. Seconds later, they declared an emergency and said the descent rate had accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute.
"We're going to crash into the ground," the person said before reporting the aircraft was descending at 22,000 feet per minute and beginning to bank. About 35 seconds after the initial distress call, the last cockpit transmission was: "We're out of time."
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 said data showed the aircraft's vertical descent rate at one point exceeded 32,000 feet per minute.
FAA records list the Bombardier-made Learjet 60 as owned by a Delaware corporation. Bombardier, which is based in Canada, said it would fully support the investigation and cooperate with authorities as needed.
About 600 residents evacuated, relocated to shelters
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office closed all lanes of Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North and urged motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Images and videos posted on social media showed several fires, debris strewn across the neighborhood, and what appeared to be an impact crater.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores said the county's immediate focus is assisting residents who were evacuated from their homes after the crash.
"We have about 600 people that we have to make sure that they have a shelter tonight, food," Flores said at the news conference. "We've got the Red Cross on standby, make sure that we provide this initial services for them."
Flores said residents of the mobile home community near the crash site could not remain in their homes because the neighborhood's entrance had become part of the investigation scene. He added that officials expect displaced residents to be housed by the end of the night.
"The people can't stay there," Flores said. "We are relocating them to two shelters in the county."
Flores also said the crash left a large crater on Military Trail, raising concerns about prolonged road closures and traffic disruptions.
"It's a massive crater on Military [Trail] that is going to take some time to fix," Flores said. "I don't see it open in the next 30 days."
Contributing: Reuters