Learjet crashes in Greenacres, killing all nine aboard

A private Learjet 60 crashed into a neighborhood in Greenacres, Florida, on Sunday at 12:50 p.m., killing all nine people on board. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the event as a horrific tragedy. The crash site is located near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County, where the jet erupted into a fireball that narrowly missed nearby homes.

Video recorded by drivers on the road captured the jet plunging from the sky before striking the pavement. Witnesses described seeing flames flicker around chunks of asphalt near a large crater. Thick black smoke rose from the wreckage as people gathered to look at the scene. The aircraft had been heading to the Bahamas after departing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.

Air traffic control data indicates the plane was cruising at 35,000 feet when the pilots reported encountering turbulence, icing, and precipitation. The crew requested to climb an additional 2,000 feet. Minutes before impact, the pilot reported light, clear ice that was manageable alongside moderate turbulence. The pilot noted that the turbulence was jolting the aircraft by as much as 700 feet.

The situation deteriorated rapidly after the climb request. The pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls as the plane began to lose altitude at a steep rate. The jet banked sharply to the right before smashing into the ground. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft descended at 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute, and finally up to 30,000 feet per minute. This speed exceeded the plane's design limits.

During the descent, the pilot radioed controllers saying the jet was descending 10,000 feet per minute. The pilot then reported an overspeed condition while descending 20,000 feet per minute. In a final transmission, the pilot stated the plane was going to crash into the ground. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo suggested that icing and turbulence may have caused the plane to stall while cruising at 34,000 feet. He noted that investigators will consider how the pilot responded to the weather conditions.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the crash as cataclysmic. He said the aircraft looked like a missile coming down and left a big crater on the side of the road. DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground being injured or killed. Palm Beach County authorities evacuated approximately 600 people from a mobile home community near the crash site.

The National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the site on Sunday and Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration is supporting the NTSB investigation. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach. The roadway near the crash site in Greenacres remains closed until further notice. The city of Greenacres has a population of 45,000 and is located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.