Learjet 60 from Austin crashes near West Palm Beach, killing nine

A Learjet 60 that departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the Bahamas crashed and caught fire in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon, killing nine people. The aircraft was registered to a Delaware limited liability company and listed online for charter. Federal records indicate this is the second deadliest crash in the United States this year, following a skydiving plane accident in Butler, Missouri, in June that resulted in twelve deaths.

The plane encountered severe weather conditions shortly before the impact. Air traffic control recordings show the pilot reporting light ice accumulation and moderate turbulence minutes prior to the emergency. The pilot stated that ice was manageable but noted the aircraft was bouncing by up to 700 feet. The pilot then declared a mayday, reporting a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute and an overspeed condition. Flight tracking data indicates the jet lost 27,000 feet in altitude during a single minute before the signal was lost.

The crash site is located near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, in West Palm Beach. This area is approximately four miles south of the local airport, which was renamed for President Donald Trump earlier this year. Trump was at the airport earlier Sunday and departed on Air Force One more than an hour before the crash occurred. No fatalities were reported on the ground, but the impact created a large debris field and buckled the road surface.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, who arrived at the scene first, stated that about 600 people need shelter due to the ground damage. Residents are currently being moved to two county shelters while investigators secure the site. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as looking like a missile going down. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the death toll and called the event a horrific tragedy.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will lead the investigation. NTSB investigators arrived at the site Sunday and Monday. A news conference is scheduled for Monday to provide further details. The FAA noted that the area was under a convective SIGMET, a warning for thunderstorms and threats to aircraft, at the time of the crash. Ice on wings is a known hazard for private jets, and the NTSB issued a safety alert in January 2024 regarding the risks of in-flight icing.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom and seeing a large black cloud rise from the site. Andrew Mannino, a resident, said power went out immediately and remained off. He smelled smoke and observed the cloud. Dash cam video of the event is expected to aid investigators. Mary Schiavo, a former Transportation Department inspector general, noted that the steep descent likely caused parts of the plane to break off and may have destroyed the flight recorder. All lanes of Military Trail remain closed until further notice.