A vital piece of the private jet that crashed into a Florida neighborhood, killing all nine people aboard, was found miles from the impact site, federal investigators revealed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also dismissed any connection between the crash and President Donald Trump's nearby Mar-a-Lago home.
NTSB member Tom Chapman stated there was "no evidence of connection. Purely coincidence" when asked about the crash's proximity to Mar-a-Lago. The Learjet 60's left elevator, a component that helps control the aircraft's pitch, was recovered between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site in Palm Beach County. Chapman indicated that even if attached, the component might not have prevented the crash given the jet's descent speed.
The Learjet was traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed Sunday. Severe weather has been a focus of the ongoing investigation, though the exact cause has not yet been determined.
Investigators are preparing to drain the impact crater, anticipating the recovery of additional, potentially small, aircraft components. Dashcam footage has been obtained to aid in reconstructing the jet's final moments. The crew had reported encountering light icing and moderate turbulence at about 35,000 feet before requesting to ascend. Air traffic controllers approved the climb, but less than 30 seconds later, the crew reported descending and issued a mayday call.
Roughly 600 residents were evacuated from the area near the crash site. The victims included Austin entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two young children, as well as two crew members. Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Retention.com, had recently celebrated a significant business milestone.
Authorities have closed a section of Military Trail due to the ongoing investigation and have not provided a timeline for reopening the road or allowing residents to return to their homes. Further updates are expected to be posted on the NTSB's website.