A piece of a Learjet crashed through the roof of a Florida woman's home as the aircraft spiraled towards the ground, killing all nine people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, which occurred Sunday.
Ana Escobar told WPBF that a suspected piece of the aircraft fell through her roof, leaving a large hole and damaging the insulation. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office collected the item as evidence.
NTSB officials confirmed that three pieces of the jet's left elevator, a component used for up-and-down movement, were recovered between one and four miles from the crash site. Another resident believes he found a piece of the plane's tail, which could suggest the jet was breaking apart before impact.
Investigators believe severe weather was a "significant factor" in the disaster. Moments before the crash, the pilots requested to gain altitude after encountering a thunderstorm. The co-pilot reported to air traffic controllers that ice was accumulating on the plane and that severe turbulence had caused the aircraft to experience extreme altitude changes. In her final radio transmissions, the co-pilot could be heard screaming, "We're going to die!" as the jet plummeted.
The flight was carrying tech executive Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, Robinson's friends, and the children's nanny. They were traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas for Robinson's birthday.