Learjet Crashes Into Palm Beach County Road, Killing All Nine Aboard

A private Learjet 60 business jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in one minute just before it crashed on Sunday, November 1, 2026, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft nose-dived into a neighborhood in Palm Beach County, Florida, and exploded near a busy road. It was the deadliest crash ever involving a Learjet 60, according to Flight Safety Foundation data cited by CNN.

The jet was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the incident occurred. Federal Aviation Administration officials stated the crash happened at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern time. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the event as a horrific tragedy in a social media post, urging the public to pray for the families of the victims.

Air traffic control recordings reveal the final minutes of the flight. The pilots initially reported light icing and moderate turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet. They reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and asked to climb 2,000 feet. The pilot reported an outside air temperature of minus 47 degrees Celsius. Within minutes, the situation deteriorated rapidly.

The pilot transmitted a mayday call, stating the aircraft was descending at 10,000 feet per minute. The descent rate accelerated to 20,000 feet per minute, and the pilot reported an overspeed condition. The pilot then declared that the jet was going to crash into the ground. Flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange showed a drop of 27,000 feet in about a minute before the signal was lost.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and said Sunday it was launching a go-team. Investigators were expected to arrive Sunday and Monday morning. A media briefing is scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach. No cause has been determined yet. The FAA noted that the jet fell from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in the final minute of the flight.

The crash site is located near Military Trail between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North in Greenacres, a city of about 45,000 residents. The area is roughly seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. The jet created a large crater on the side of the road, and the debris field stretched a long distance. Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater, and thick black smoke covered the site.

Witnesses described the sudden nature of the event. Anthony Blackmon, who was about 500 feet from the crash, said debris hit his house and the road was on fire. Roger Forcelle reported that the aircraft passed over his home, shaking the structure before crashing probably less than half a mile away. Andrew Mannino heard a boom and noted that power went out immediately. A woman working nearby said the electricity had been out for about two hours.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and told reporters the crash looked like a missile going down. He said there were no reports of people on the ground being killed or injured at the time of his news conference. He praised local first responders for their quick response. The crater was only feet from homes, with chunks of pavement lining it.

Approximately 600 residents of a nearby mobile home community had to leave their homes Sunday night. County officials stated the crash scene blocks the entrance to the park and is being treated as a crime scene while federal investigators work. No official has alleged that a crime took place. Residents were being sent to two county shelters. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, the first county official on site, said about 600 people needed shelter that night. He said the Red Cross was standing by, and county officials said Palm Tran buses were ready to carry residents once law enforcement allowed the evacuation.

Palm Beach County closed Military Trail between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane or Alameda Drive until further notice. The road was open only to emergency vehicles. Drivers were directed to use 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane or Alameda Drive for east-west travel. Haverhill Road and Kirk Road were recommended for north-south travel. Officials warned that the closure could last an extended time due to the crater and the ongoing federal investigation.

Weather data indicates scattered storms were in the area. The jet passed through a stronger storm cell shortly before the descent. The FAA had issued a convective SIGMET, a warning of thunderstorms that threaten aircraft. The National Weather Service had a flood watch in effect through Monday afternoon. It is not yet determined if the weather played a role in the crash.

The aircraft is registered as N722BD. FAA records list it as a Learjet 60 owned by LR60271 LLC of Wilmington, Delaware. The jet is listed online as available for charter flights. Officials have not identified the operator of the Sunday flight. Mary Schiavo, a CNN aviation analyst, said the steep dive could have torn parts off the plane. She stated that the descent was not controlled and that the crew had lost control of the aircraft.

This crash is the second deadliest in the United States this year. A skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, in June killed 12 people. In 2008, four people were killed when a Learjet 60 bound for Los Angeles crashed on takeoff in Columbia, South Carolina. Bombardier, the Canadian manufacturer that most recently built Learjets, stopped producing new models in 2021 but continues to support planes in service. The FAA requires multi-engine jets to carry a cockpit voice recorder only when flown for hire.