Learjet 60 Nosedives and Erupts in Fireball Near Busy South Florida Roadway; All 9 on Board Died

Crash near the roadway

The business jet went down in a South Florida neighborhood on Sunday, near a Palm Beach County roadway. Video recorded from cars showed the aircraft plunging before impact and exploding into flames.

The crash left a crater and debris near homes and passing vehicles. Thick black smoke rose from the site, while people nearby gathered in shock. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard died. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground.

Flight and emergency calls

The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for the Bahamas. Authorities had not immediately identified those aboard or announced a cause.

The jet was flying east at 35,000 feet when pilots reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and asked to climb another 2,000 feet. The pilot later declared an emergency and sent distress calls.

Air traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data showed the aircraft entering a steep dive, with its descent rate increasing from 10,000 to 20,000 and then 30,000 feet per minute. It banked sharply right before hitting the ground.

Investigation and weather conditions

Duffy said the Learjet 60 crashed at 12:50 p.m. and described it as a “horrific tragedy,” according to his post on X. He said the FAA would send a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation.

DeSantis called the crash “cataclysmic” while speaking to reporters at the scene. Rain was falling in the region, and the National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon.

The pilot had reported ice accumulating on the jet and turbulence jolting it by as much as 700 feet, according to recordings captured by LiveATC.net. The pilot described the ice as manageable before conditions worsened.