GREENACRES, FL. (THECOUNT) — Nine people aboard a Bombardier Learjet 60 were killed Sunday when the business jet plunged into a residential area near Military Trail in Palm Beach County, Florida, and erupted into flames. The crash narrowly missed nearby homes and vehicles, and authorities reported no injuries on the ground.
The aircraft, registered as N722BD, went down near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North in the Greenacres area, according to authorities. Dashcam video captured the jet descending steeply before striking the ground and exploding in a fireball.
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The aircraft was registered to LR60271 LLC, a company based in Wilmington, Delaware. It had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all nine people aboard were killed. The identities of those on the flight had not been released in the initial reports.
Flight-tracking information and air traffic control communications indicate the crew reported icing, moderate turbulence and precipitation while flying over Florida. The pilots requested a different altitude in an effort to find smoother conditions.
During the final minutes of the flight, the crew reported a rapidly developing emergency and an overspeed condition as the aircraft descended at an extreme rate. The pilot told air traffic control the jet was descending at approximately 10,000 feet per minute before later reporting a much higher descent rate and a steep bank.
In the final radio transmissions, the pilot warned, “We’re going to crash into the ground.” The aircraft then struck the ground near the roadway, leaving a large crater and burning wreckage.
Authorities have not determined what caused the aircraft to enter the rapid descent. Reports of icing and turbulence are part of the information being examined, but investigators have not established that either condition caused the crash. The aircraft’s apparent missing tail component also should not be treated as evidence of a confirmed mechanical failure.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators are examining the aircraft, flight data and communications to determine what happened before impact.
Military Trail was closed between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North as emergency crews responded. Authorities also arranged for residents of a nearby mobile-home community to leave the area while the investigation and recovery operation continued.
The crash occurred in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County, west of West Palm Beach in South Florida. The map below identifies the reported roadway area near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, rather than an exact impact point.
Google Maps: Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, Greenacres, FL (approximate crash area)
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