Learjet 60 crashes in Greenacres, killing all nine on board
The private jet plunged from 35,000 feet after pilots reported severe icing and turbulence, striking a roadway in Palm Beach County on Sunday.
By Harper Laurent ·
Nine people died when a private Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the fatalities in a post on X, describing the incident as a "horrific tragedy." The aircraft was headed to the Bahamas from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas when it went down at 12:50 p.m.
Air traffic control recordings show the plane was cruising at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported light ice and moderate turbulence. The pilot requested to climb an additional 2,000 feet due to precipitation. Minutes later, the aircraft entered a steep dive. Flight data indicates the jet lost altitude at a rate that eventually reached 30,000 feet per minute, pushing the aircraft beyond its design speed limits.
The pilot declared an emergency and issued multiple distress calls. One transmission captured the pilot stating, "We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute," followed by the declaration, "We’re going to crash into the ground." The plane banked sharply to the right before striking the ground in Greenacres, a city of 45,000 people located about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach.
Video from drivers nearby shows the jet plunging from the sky and exploding into a fireball near a busy roadway. The crash created a large crater, and flames burned through debris scattered across the pavement. Thick black smoke rose from the site as residents and drivers expressed shock at how close the wreckage came to homes and passing cars.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the event as a "cataclysmic plane crash." He noted that the impact looked like a missile going down. DeSantis said there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths among people on the ground. Heavy rain and a flood watch were in effect for the region at the time of the accident.
Palm Beach County officials evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community. The roadway remains closed until further notice. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash. NTSB investigators were expected to arrive at the site on Sunday and Monday, with a media briefing scheduled for Monday in West Palm Beach.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo suggested that icing and turbulence may have contributed to the crash, potentially causing the plane to stall. The NTSB has not yet determined the cause of the accident or identified the individuals on board. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, confirmed the jet was a private aircraft but did not release further details about the passengers or crew.
