Nine killed in private jet crash in Florida neighborhood
A Learjet 60 plunged from the sky into a residential area in Palm Beach County, creating a large crater near a busy road.
By Dominic Foster ·
Nine people died when a private jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the total loss of life in a statement issued on Sunday.
The aircraft, a Learjet 60 with tail number N722BD, was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to the Bahamas. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the jet lost altitude and descended in a steep dive before striking the ground.
Witnesses captured video of the plane falling from the air and exploding upon impact. The crash site produced a large crater in the pavement and a fireball near a heavily used roadway. Thick black smoke rose from the area as emergency responders arrived on the scene.
The impact occurred near the intersection of Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in Palm Beach County. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office closed the roads in both directions and asked drivers to avoid the area. Firefighters and other emergency personnel worked quickly to secure the site.
Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, described the incident as a tragedy. He noted that the aircraft was privately owned and did not provide specific details about the passengers at the time of the crash. Authorities have not yet released the names of those on board.
A local resident who worked nearby reported that power in the immediate area was cut for roughly two hours following the collision. It remained unclear on Sunday whether nearby homes sustained damage from the crash or the resulting fire.
