9 dead as Learjet 60 crashes into Florida neighborhood

Nine people died in a business jet crash on Sunday.

The aircraft was a Learjet 60. It crashed into a residential area in Palm Beach County, Florida, at approximately 12:50 p.m. ET. The site was near the intersection of Military Trail and Cresthaven Boulevard, close to 10th Avenue North. Federal officials confirmed that all nine individuals on board were killed.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the death toll in a social media post. He stated that the Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to the scene. Their role is to support the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation. Duffy asked the public to pray for the families and loved ones of the victims.

The Learjet 60 had taken off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. Its intended destination was North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft appears to have narrowly missed several homes during the impact. It struck near a roadway in the community known as Cresthaven. The Associated Press reported that the plane hit the ground close to residential structures.

Local authorities urged drivers to seek alternate routes through the area. This advisory aimed to keep traffic away from the crash site and facilitate emergency operations. It was unclear at the time of reporting whether the impact caused structural damage to nearby houses. The jet erupted in a massive fireball upon impact, according to initial reports from the scene.

The Learjet 60 is a medium-size business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace. The aircraft is 58 feet long. It is designed to carry a maximum of two crew members and eight passengers. Its maximum range is just over 2,400 nautical miles. This specific crash involved a full complement of nine people on board.

The National Transportation Safety Board has taken the lead in determining the cause of the accident. The FAA is providing additional personnel to assist with the ongoing inquiry. Officials are monitoring the situation closely and plan to share updates as new information becomes available. The crash has drawn attention to the safety of low-altitude business jet travel in populated areas.

The incident occurred in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County. The specific location was near Cresthaven. The timing of the crash was shortly after midday. The combination of a business jet and a residential setting highlighted the proximity of air traffic to local communities. The nine victims included the crew and passengers who were traveling from Texas to the Bahamas.