Learjet Plunges Into South Florida Neighborhood, Killing Nine

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a Learjet 60 that crashed into a residential area in Florida on Sunday.

The aircraft was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the Bahamas. It carried nine people, all of whom died in the crash. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground. Authorities have not yet released the names of the nine victims.

The jet was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot began reporting technical issues. Rain was falling in the region at the time. According to air traffic control recordings, the pilot said ice was accumulating on the plane and turbulence was shaking it by up to 700 feet. The pilot described the ice as light and clear and the turbulence as moderate. He requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet before declaring an emergency.

The situation deteriorated quickly. The pilot radioed that the jet was descending at 8,000 feet per minute and later reported an overspeed condition while descending at 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot told controllers, "We're going to crash into the ground." The plane banked sharply to the right before striking the ground and exploding.

The crash occurred in the Green Acres neighborhood, about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. Passersby recorded video of the aircraft hitting the pavement and erupting in flames. Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the site, said debris hit his house and the road caught fire. He told NBC affiliate WTVJ, "I've always seen it on the news, never thought it would happen so close to somebody like how it happened today."

Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. Governor DeSantis described the scene as a big crater on the side of the road. He told reporters, "It looked like a missile going down."

The NTSB is scheduled to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday to provide updates on the investigation. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the aircraft was private but could not provide details about the passengers.