Learjet 60 Plunges Into South Florida After Pilot Reports Ice and Turbulence
All nine people aboard the aircraft died in the crash near West Palm Beach, which left a fiery crater and prompted evacuations of 600 residents.
By Arjun Weber ·
A Learjet 60 crashed into the Green Acres neighborhood in South Florida on Sunday afternoon, killing all nine people on board. The private aircraft was heading to the Bahamas when it descended rapidly after the pilot reported accumulating ice and severe turbulence. The impact created a large crater and ignited a fire that consumed the jet and surrounding pavement.
Air traffic control recordings indicate the flight originated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. While cruising east at 35,000 feet, the pilot informed controllers that the plane was experiencing light ice and moderate turbulence. The pilot stated the ice was manageable but noted that turbulence was jolting the aircraft by as much as 700 feet. Rain was falling in the region at the time of the incident.
The situation deteriorated quickly when the pilot requested permission to climb an additional 2,000 feet. Shortly after, the pilot declared an emergency and reported a loss of altitude at a rate of 8,000 feet per minute. The pilot then communicated an overspeed condition with a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute. In a final transmission, the pilot stated, "We're going to crash into the ground." The jet banked sharply to the right before hitting the earth.
Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, described the scene to WTVJ. He said debris struck his house and that everything, including the road, was on fire. Blackmon noted that while he had seen plane crashes on the news, he had never expected one to happen so close to his home. Video from passersby showed the aircraft exploding upon impact, with thick black smoke rising from the site.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the scene and described the event as a cataclysmic crash. He said the aircraft looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road. DeSantis reported no immediate injuries or deaths among people on the ground. Authorities have not yet released the names of the nine individuals who died on the plane.
Palm Beach County officials evacuated approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. The NTSB plans to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday to provide updates. Airport spokesperson Jim Reynolds confirmed the jet was a private aircraft but could not provide details about the passengers.
