A Learjet 60 carrying nine people plummeted from the sky near West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, killing all onboard and causing an explosion that shook nearby homes.
The $2 million jet, traveling from Texas to the Bahamas, crashed around 12:50 p.m. near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. Witnesses described the incident with alarm. One resident told Fox News that the event "felt like [a] super big explosion," initially mistaking the sound for massive lightning. The impact caused their apartment's power to flicker and windows to shake.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, present near the crash site, described the descent as "like a missile coming down and a massive explosion, debris going everywhere." Dash camera footage captured the moment the plane crashed and erupted into a large fireball. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed nine individuals were on board.
While no one on the ground was injured, the crash left a significant crater in the road and scattered debris, damaging infrastructure. The accident has forced nearly 600 residents of a nearby mobile home community to relocate, as the entrance to their neighborhood is adjacent to the wreckage. Authorities have designated the crash site a crime scene, preventing residents from accessing their homes. Road closures are expected to last at least a month, impacting nearby businesses as well.
Air traffic control audio revealed the pilot declared an emergency shortly before the crash, reporting an "overspeed condition" and a rapid descent. The pilot's panicked voice could be heard stating, "We're descending 8,000... mayday mayday... we're descending 10,000 ft per minute." She later reported "descending 20,000 ft per minute" and "banking 60 degrees" before exclaiming, "We're out of time."
Weather conditions in the West Palm Beach area at the time included overcast skies, rain, lightning, and winds gusting up to 25 mph. Visibility was reported at 7 miles.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).