A business jet crashed in a residential neighborhood in Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board, the U.S. transport secretary confirmed. The crash occurred near Cresthaven, approximately nine miles from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach County, around 12:50 p.m. EST (17:50 GMT).
Images from the scene showed a crater-like hole in a residential road, with debris from the Learjet 60 scattered. The aircraft had departed from Austin, Texas, and was en route to the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as a "horrific tragedy" and stated that the FAA was dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation. "Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost," Duffy said.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office reported the crash occurred in the area of Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, and advised motorists to avoid the vicinity. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue declared a "mass casualty incident."
It remains unclear who was on board the jet or if any individuals on the ground were injured or killed.