A business jet crashed in a Florida neighbourhood on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft struck a road near Palm Beach County, causing a huge fire and leaving a crater at the scene. Emergency teams rushed to the area as officials began an investigation into the deadly crash.
The crash happened near Cresthaven, about nine miles from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida resort owned by US President Donald Trump. The aircraft came down at around 12:50 p.m. local time. The area has homes, shops and busy roads.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Learjet 60. It had left Austin, Texas, and was heading to the Bahamas. Officials had not confirmed the cause of the crash or released the names of the nine people who died.
Images from the scene showed a large hole in the middle of a residential road. Flames burned among broken concrete and pieces of the aircraft. The impact also caused damage to nearby roads and public services.
Early reports suggested the jet was losing height at an alarming rate before it hit the ground. Flight data and audio from air traffic control pointed to a rapid descent in the final moments of the flight.
According to reports, the pilot first told air traffic control that the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot then declared an emergency and warned that the jet was moving too fast as it dropped.
The pilot reportedly said the aircraft was descending at 20,000 feet per minute. The final messages included a warning that the plane was about to crash and that there was no time left.
The recordings may help investigators rebuild the final moments of the flight. However, the cause of the rapid descent remains unclear. Experts will need to study the aircraft, its flight records and other evidence before reaching a firm answer.
A video shared on social media appeared to show the crash. The footage had not been verified. It seemed to show cars moving along a suburban road before the aircraft plunged almost straight down and burst into flames.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke about the shocking images at a news conference. He said the jet looked like a missile as it fell. He also described a huge blast that sent debris across the road.
Officials said there were no reports at that time of anyone on the ground being killed or hurt. Still, emergency workers had to deal with a large crash site and serious damage to the local area.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the crash a horrific tragedy. He said the Federal Aviation Administration was sending a team to help with the work of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The safety board will lead the investigation into the crash. Investigators are expected to review the pilot’s emergency calls, flight data and the condition of the aircraft. They may also look at weather reports and other details from the hours before the crash.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a mass casualty incident. This alert helps emergency services bring in the staff and equipment needed for a major event. Firefighters and other rescue teams worked at the scene as officials assessed the damage.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the crash happened on Military Trail, a six-lane road lined with businesses and places to eat. The impact damaged local infrastructure, including water lines.
Local officials said about 600 people living in a nearby mobile home community were being evacuated. The move was made as a safety measure while crews checked the area and worked to manage the damage.
Officials also warned that repairs could take time. Military Trail may remain closed for at least 30 days because of the damage caused by the crash. The closure is likely to affect local travel and nearby businesses.
Weather may be another factor for investigators to examine. Thunderstorms had been reported in the area around the time of the crash. Heavy rain was also falling during the news conference. Officials had not said whether the weather played a role in the accident.
Trump had been at Mar-a-Lago earlier on Sunday. He left from a nearby airport aboard Air Force One about an hour before the crash. No link between the president’s travel and the incident had been reported.
The deaths of all nine people on board make the crash a major aviation tragedy. Investigators must now establish what caused the jet to descend so quickly and why it struck a road in a residential area. Their findings will help explain the events that led to the disaster.
