Nine killed as Learjet 60 crashes in Palm Beach County, Florida
A Learjet 60 flying from Austin to the Bahamas crashed near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North on Sunday, killing all nine aboard, the US transportation secretary said.
The story in focus
All nine people aboard a Learjet 60 business jet died when it crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the Bahamas. The FAA is sending a team to support the NTSB investigation.
- US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said all nine people aboard the Learjet 60 died in the crash.
- The aircraft crashed in Palm Beach County at 12:50pm on Sunday near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North.
- The FAA said the jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas.
- The FAA is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the cause.
- Authorities have not said what caused the crash or identified those on board.
Crash and casualties
A Learjet 60 business jet crashed in a Florida neighborhood on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. Duffy wrote on X that the aircraft went down in Palm Beach County at 12:50pm and described it as a horrific tragedy.
The jet erupted in a large fireball that appeared to narrowly miss homes before striking near a busy roadway. Video from passing cars showed the aircraft plunging before impact and exploding. It was unclear whether the crash damaged any homes.
The crash occurred near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. The Palm Beach County sheriff's office closed roads in both directions and urged motorists to avoid the area. Firefighters and other emergency personnel responded to the scene. A woman working nearby said electricity in the area had been out for about two hours after the crash.
Flight and investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas. Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for the airport, said it was a private aircraft and gave the tail number as N722BD. He said he could not immediately provide details about who was on the flight.
Duffy said the FAA is sending a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the cause. Authorities did not immediately say what caused the jet to go down or who was on it. The circumstances of the crash remained under investigation.
How many people died in the Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County?
All nine people aboard the Learjet 60 died, according to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The jet crashed in Palm Beach County at 12:50pm on Sunday after departing Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for the Bahamas.
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